MEXICO CITY: A multitude surrounded Mexico City’s Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday following days of pilgrimage from all over the country.

By 7am officials estimated a crowd of 9.8 million in the area surrounding one of the Roman Catholic world’s holiest shrines, according to national civil defense coordinator David Leon. If so, that would exceed the population of Mexico City itself.

The Dec 12 pilgrimage honours the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexicos patroness. Many carry large statues or other images of the cerulean-shrouded, contemplative virgin as they stream en masse to the temple. Some make the last stretch crawling emotionally and painfully on their knees.

According to church tradition, in 1531 the dark-skinned virgin appeared to the indigenous peasant Juan Diego and her image was imprinted on his cloak, which is on display inside the church. Juan Diego was made a saint in 2002 by Saint John Paul II.

The masses are so huge that people are often left to sleep on the sidewalk while they wait for a turn inside to view the cloak.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2019