Joshua Bennett
Mexico is home to the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world and one of the biggest Catholic populations. Since 1979, three popes have visited Mexico: Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. Pope John Paul II visited Mexico five times, making it one of the most visited countries during his papacy. Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico once in 2012, and Pope Francis became the third pope to visit Mexico in 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Popes that have visited Mexico | 3 |
| First Catholic Pope to visit Mexico | Pope John Paul II |
| Year of first visit | 1979 |
| Number of visits by Pope John Paul II | 5 |
| Years of Pope John Paul II's subsequent visits | 1990, 1993, 1999, 2002 |
| Second Catholic Pope to visit Mexico | Pope Benedict XVI |
| Year of Pope Benedict XVI's first visit | 2012 |
| Third Catholic Pope to visit Mexico | Pope Francis |
| Year of Pope Francis's visit | 2016 |
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What You'll Learn
Pope John Paul II was the first pope to visit Mexico in 1979
John Paul II was known as "The Pilgrim Pope" and was one of the most well-travelled world leaders in history, making 104 foreign trips and visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. He consistently attracted large crowds, some among the largest ever assembled in human history.
The 1979 visit to Mexico was not without political turmoil. At the time, the Vatican and Mexico had no diplomatic relations, so the pope had not been formally "invited" by the government. Throughout the trip, John Paul II broke the law by wearing a cassock in public and was welcomed by then-President José López Portillo as an “illustrious visitor”.
John Paul II returned to Mexico four more times – in 1990, 1993, 1999, and 2002 – making it one of the most visited countries during his papacy. Mexico was the first foreign trip of his papacy, and it came only four months after his election, accepting an invitation from his predecessor, John Paul I, to attend a meeting of the Latin American bishops in Puebla.
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Pope John Paul II visited Mexico five times
Pope John Paul II was one of the most well-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. He made his first foreign journey as Pope to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Bahamas in January 1979. During his stay in Mexico, it is believed that around 18 million people greeted him.
Mexico was the first foreign trip of his papacy, and it came just four months after his election in October 1978. He returned to Mexico four more times, in 1990, 1993, 1999, and 2002, making it one of the most visited countries during his papacy. Outside of his trips to his home country of Poland, France, and the United States, Pope John Paul II visited Mexico more than any other country in the world.
During his second visit in 1990, Pope John Paul II visited 10 Mexican cities in eight days, with a stop for prayers and jet fuel in Curacao on the way home. He also beatified Juan Diego, a native Mexican peasant to whom the Virgin Mary, in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe, first appeared.
In 1999, Pope John Paul II visited Mexico for the fourth time, staying for four days in the capital city. There, he met with patients at a hospital and held several open-air events. He also proclaimed December 12 to be a feast day for the whole continent and elevated the Virgin of Guadalupe to the honour of "Patroness of the Americas".
Pope John Paul II's final visit to Mexico in 2002 was marked by his advanced stage of Parkinson's disease. During this visit, he bestowed upon the Church the "gift of the first indigenous saint of the American continent", canonising Juan Diego.
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Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico once in 2012
Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico once, in 2012. This was part of an apostolic journey to Mexico and Cuba, during which he addressed poverty, insecurity, and violence. Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the city of León, Guanajuato, at 4:12 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, and stayed until Monday, March 26. He was received by a crowd of about 4,000 people and officially welcomed by President Calderón and first lady Margarita Zavala.
This was Pope Benedict XVI's second trip to Latin America, and it occurred during the later years of his papacy. He had previously visited his native Germany in 2005 for the 20th World Youth Day, and he also travelled to the United States in 2008. In 2010, he visited the Middle East, including Lebanon, where he promulgated his post-synodal apostolic exhortation.
Pope Benedict XVI made 25 foreign trips during his reign, visiting 25 countries. He was particularly active in visiting other countries, making five foreign journeys in 2010 and 2011. He was the oldest Pope to travel to Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Mexico in 2012 was a significant event in the country's history of papal visits. Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world, with 96 million Catholics residing in the country. The first papal visit to Mexico was made by Pope John Paul II in 1979, and he returned four more times during his papacy.
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Pope Francis visited Mexico in 2016, becoming the third pope to do so
Mexico is home to the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world and has one of the biggest Catholic populations. In 2016, Pope Francis became the third pope to visit Mexico, after Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. John Paul II made the first papal visit to Mexico in 1979 and returned four times – in 1990, 1993, 1999, and 2002. Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico in 2012.
Pope Francis began his February 12-17 visit to Mexico on a Friday in 2016, arriving in Mexico City. The visit of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, was highly anticipated by Mexican Catholics, 86% of whom saw him favourably when a survey was conducted in late 2013. During his visit, Pope Francis was expected to authorize the use of indigenous languages during Mass.
Pope Francis' visit to Mexico came at a time when the country was witnessing a decline in the percentage of people identifying as Catholic. This trend was more pronounced in Mexico's Central American neighbours, where the share of adult Catholics had fallen by more than twice the rate found in Mexico. However, within Mexico itself, the decline in Catholicism was significant, with about one-tenth of adults raised Catholic no longer identifying with the religion.
Pope Francis' visit to Mexico was also notable given the country's traditionally strong separation of church and state, dating back to the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s, when anticlerical policies were created. Despite this, Mexico has warmly welcomed papal visits, with large crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of the Pope.
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Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world
The history of the Catholic Church in Mexico dates back to the period of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire from 1519 to 1521. During this time, the Church made significant efforts to evangelize the indigenous population, which was termed "the spiritual conquest". The Spanish Empire's expansion into new territories, including Mexico, led to the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy and the creation of dioceses. After Mexico gained independence in 1821, the country established a legal framework that continued the privileged status of the Catholic Church as the official and unique religion.
In the 21st century, Mexico remains a secular state with a strong separation of church and state, guaranteeing religious freedom for its citizens. Despite the decline in Catholic population in recent years, Mexico still has a large number of practising Catholics. According to surveys, around 3% of Catholics attend church daily, and 44% attend at least once a week.
The strong Catholic presence in Mexico has been reflected in the country's warm reception of papal visits. Pope John Paul II made the first papal visit to Mexico in 1979 and returned four more times during his papacy. Pope Benedict XVI also visited Mexico in 2012. These visits highlight the significance of the Catholic faith in Mexico and its role as the second-largest Catholic population globally.
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Frequently asked questions
Three Catholic Popes have visited Mexico: Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
Pope John Paul II visited Mexico five times: in 1979, 1990, 1993, 1999, and 2002.
During his visits, Pope John Paul II met with patients at a hospital and held several open-air events. He also proclaimed Dec. 12 to be a feast for the whole continent and elevated the Guadalupana to the honour of "Patroness of the Americas."
Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico in 2012.
Pope Francis visited Mexico in February 2016.
