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 Holy See |  Mexico |
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TheHoly See (Vatican City) andMexico have a long-standing contact and foreign relations. Catholicism was introduced in Mexico in 1519 by theSpanish Empire. The majority of Mexicans practice the Catholic faith, however, since the adoption of the currentConstitution in 1917, Mexico is asecular nation.
In 1904, the Holy See assigned anApostolic Delegate asresident representative in Mexico.[1] The Holy See and Mexico broke diplomatic relations after Mexican PresidentBenito Juárez confiscated church property between 1856 and 1861.[2] President Juárez disbanded religious orders and ordered theseparation of church and state in the newConstitution of Mexico, making Mexico a secular country. Some of the powers of theCatholic Church were reinstated by PresidentPorfirio Diaz.[3]
In 1926, after several years of theMexican Revolution and insecurity, PresidentPlutarco Elías Calles, leader of the rulingInstitutional Revolutionary Party, enacted theCalles Law, which eradicated all the personal property of the churches, closed churches that were not registered with the State, and prohibited clerics from holding public office.[4] The law was unpopular, and several protesters from rural areas fought against federal troops in what became known as theCristero War. After the war's end in 1929, PresidentEmilio Portes Gil upheld a previous truce where the law would remain enacted, but not enforced, in exchange for the hostilities to end.
In 1974, Mexican PresidentLuis Echeverría paid a visit to the Holy See, becoming the first Mexican head-of-state to do so.[5] In 1979,Pope John Paul II became the first Papal leader to visit Mexico.[6] In 1992, after more than 130 years, the Mexican Government re-established formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See. That same year, resident diplomatic missions were established.[1]
In 2016Pope Francis paid a visit to Mexico.[7] During his visit to Mexico, Pope Francis, in reference to theMexico–United States border wall, stated that "A person who only thinks of building walls, and not building bridges, is not Christian". This statement was made in reference to the comments made by U.S. PresidentDonald Trump's with regards to the border wall.[8]
Each year, Mexico donates two nativity scenes and Christmas decorations to the Vatican as part of a cultural event known as “Mexican Christmas in the Vatican” and “Hands of the World in the Vatican.”[9][10]
Papal visits from the Holy See to Mexico[9]
Presidential visits from Mexico to the Holy See[9]
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