MEXICO CITY (dpa-AFX) – Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the beginning of his visit to Mexico. After the CDU politician had visited the church, he was blessed in the huge forecourt by priest Víctor Torres, the spiritual leader of the Archbrotherhood of Guadalupe. The priest had offered and then granted the blessing for the minister and his delegation.
The Catholic basilica in the north of Mexico City is considered one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world. The legend about the Virgin dates back to 1531. Maria is said to have commissioned an indigenous farmer near Mexico City to build a chapel. Today the Virgin of Guadalupe is considered the patron saint of Mexico. The indigenous farmer Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
After the visit, Wadephul wanted to chair a meeting of the German-Mexican binational commission together with Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco. Mexico is a central partner for the federal government in Latin America, including in its commitment to international order./aso/bk/DP/zb