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.
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, MÉXICO – El Papa Francisco se encuentra por primera vez en México como jefe de la Iglesia Católica Romana, en una visita que comenzó el 12 de febrero y cuyo fin está previsto para el miércoles.
La visita de seis días pone de relieve la condición de México como el segundo país con mayor número de católicos del mundo, según datos de 2010 del Pew Research Center. Cifras del gobierno mexicano de 2010 indican que casi el 83 por ciento de la población es católica.
El fin de semana, Francisco visitó la Ciudad de México y Ecatepec de Morelos, una ciudad y municipio en las afueras de la capital, en el estado de México, que en diciembre de 2015 se situó como el estado con mayor número y tipos de presuntos crímenes registrados en el país, según el gobierno mexicano.
El lunes, su periplo lo llevó a San Cristóbal de las Casas, una ciudad en Chiapas, el estado más meridional de México. Chiapas tiene el mayor índice de pobreza del país, según datos oficiales.
Francisco, originario de Argentina, es el primer papa de las Américas.
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.
