Publication Date
February 15, 2016
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
A group of nuns from the Siervas de María, Ministras de los Enfermos congregation traveled to Mexico City to see Pope Francis on Feb. 13. “The Pope is our leader,” says Sister Teresa de Jesús Gómez, 51, third from the right.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – Pope Francis is in Mexico for the first time as head of the Roman Catholic Church in a visit that began on Feb. 12 and is scheduled to end on Wednesday.
The six-day visit underscores Mexico’s status as the nation that has, according to 2010 data from the Pew Research Center, the second highest number of Catholics in the world. The Mexican government’s 2010 data, estimates that almost 83 percent of the population is Catholic.
Over the weekend, Francis visited Mexico City and Ecatepec de Morelos, a city and municipality just outside the capital in Mexico state, which in December 2015 was the state with the highest number and types of registered alleged crimes in the country, according to the Mexican government.
On Monday, his trip took him to San Cristóbal de las Casas, a city in Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas. Chiapas has the highest poverty rate in the country, according to government data.
Francis, who is from Argentina, is the first pope from the American continents.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
Advertisements announcing the pope’s visit are seen throughout Mexico City.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
A man stands guard at the Zócalo, the main square in Mexico City, on Feb. 12 in preparation of the pope’s visit. On February 13, the Roman Catholic Church’s leader toured the Zócalo in the “popemobile.”
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
Oscar Javier Acosta, 32, a street vendor, sells commemorative items in Mexico City on Feb. 13
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
After visiting Mexico City, the pope traveled north on Feb. 14 to Ecatepec de Morelos, a city and municipality just outside the capital in Mexico state. Some people took the role of cheerleaders to motivate the crowds who were waiting to see the pontiff. Many people had been waiting along the fence since the night before.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
Rosalba Pérez, 42, sells food and souvenirs near the route Pope Francis took when he visited Ecatepec on Feb. 14.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
Pope Francis arrives in Ecatepec on Feb. 14.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
People gathered to celebrate mass performed by Pope Francis in Ecatepec on Feb. 14. There was no seating or canopies to protect them from the sun.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
Francisco Pérez, 50, on far left taking the photo, sells printed photos with a life-size poster of Pope Francis on Feb. 14 in Ecatepec. Each photo costs 50 pesos ($2.66). Business wasn’t great, he says, possibly because so many people were using their own smartphones to take pictures.
Mayela Sánchez, GPJ Mexico
An employee disassembles metal detectors installed at the entrance of “El Caracol” on Feb. 14 in Ecatepec.
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
Artisans sell pope-themed memorabilia to people waiting in line to enter the Centro Deportivo Municipal, where Pope Francis led Mass on Monday, Feb. 15 in San Cristóbal de las Casas, a city in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state.
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
The pope’s visit to San Cristóbal de las Casas drew people from around the country. Juan Arjona, 32 (center), traveled about 16 hours from Yucatán, a state northeast of Chiapas. He holds a sign that says, “Pope Francis, Welcome to Mexico.”
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
Pope Francis led morning Mass on Mon., Feb. 15 in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Parts of the ceremony were performed in local indigenous languages.
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
Pope Francis greets crowds gathered in San Cristóbal de las Casas, on Mon., Feb. 15.
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
Pope Francis embraces a young girl in San Cristóbal de las Casas before leaving the city.
