La Solicitud de Bendición de Claudia Sheinbaum al Papa Francisco: Un Regalo para los Mexicanos

Claudia Sheinbaum, virtual candidate of the “Sigamos Haciendo Historia” coalition, recently shared a special moment with the Pope Francis. Thinking about the devotion of Mexicans to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Sheinbaum brought a silver rose made by Adrian Pallarols, the pontiff’s goldsmith, to be blessed by the Pope.

The former head of government of Mexico City (from December 2018 to June 2023) shared the moment when this act took place. In recent hours, the sole candidate of Morena has been sharing a series of quotes from the encyclical letter “Fratelli Tutti” by the representative of the Catholic Church. Now, she will carry a memento to one of the most important shrines of this religion.

“I will deliver it to the rector of the basilica. I believe it is the best gift I can bring to the Mexican people to share this gratifying experience of being able to coexist with a humanist in every sense of the word,” expressed Claudia Sheinbaum on her social media.

The devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe, as well as to the Catholic religion, is a deeply rooted phenomenon in the country for many years, which can be attributed to the Spanish conquest. However, it was embraced by Mexicans as a symbol of faith, identity, and resistance. It was with this in mind that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, considered the “Father of the Nation,” held a painting with the image of the Virgin to call on the Mexican people to rise up during the times of the Mexican Independence.

At the National Museum of History “Castillo de Chapultepec,” there are two pieces dating back to the Independence era. The first is an oil painting with the image of the Guadalupana, the same standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe raised by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16, 1810, in the church of Atotonilco, currently in Guanajuato. The second piece, called the “Estandarte,” was used by insurgent forces between 1810 and 1813 and is considered a banner due to its characteristics.

Thus, the Virgin of Guadalupe became a topic of identity, cultural resistance, and religious syncretism for millions of Mexicans, who visit the basilica to show their faith and gratitude. It is worth noting that every December 12th, the “Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe” is celebrated, where millions of people come to the temple to commemorate her first appearance. These believers are even called pilgrims, as they embark on their journey on foot from days before to reach the Basilica of Guadalupe.