Juan Diego Canonized as First American Indian Saint

MEXICO CITY, Jul 31, 02 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II today presided at the canonization of the first native Indian saint, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, at the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Approximately 12,000 people crowded into the basilica for the canonization ceremony on Wednesday morning, while another 30,000 followed the ceremony on a giant video screen just outside the building. The streets of Mexico City were crowded for hours beforehand, as people sought an opportunity to wave to the Pontiff as he passing in his motorcade to the Marian shrine, which is located outside the city.

Scores of Indians, many wearing traditional dress, were in the front rows of the basilica during the ceremony. At the dramatic climax, when the Pope read the official proclamation declaring Juan Diego a saint, two Indians in full regalia appeared on other side of the podium, and the sound of native music--played on maraccas and other Indian instruments-- filled the shrine. Some of the Indians in the congregation began native dances, and strings of red paper were released from a platform above-- symbolizing the roses that were found in Juan Diego's tunic when he went to tell the bishop about the apperance of the Virgin Mary.

Known as Cuauhtlatoatzin («eagle who speaks») at birth, the first Indian saint took the name Juan Diego when he was baptized in 1524 or 1525. He was a simple man, who lived with an uncle after the death of his wife. On December 9, 1531, he was crossing the hill at Tepeyac when the Virgin Mary appeared to him, saying that she wanted a church built there in her honor. When Juan Diego told the bishop about the Virgin's appearance, he demanded proof. The Blessed Mother then appeared to Juan Diego again, showing him roses blooming on the hilltop-- in winter, on ground where flowers had never grown. When Juan Diego brought the roses to the bishop, carrying them in his cloak, an image of the Virgin was found imprinted on the fabric. That miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is still venerated at the basilica.

In his homily during the canonization Mass, Pope John Paul said that Juan Diego was «a simple and humble Indian who contemplated the sweet, serence face of the Virgin of Tepeyac.» The Pope added that the canonization of this favorite Indian saint should be «an inspiration for the development of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all her children and reconciliation of today's Mexico with the nation's origins and traditions.»

At the conclusion of the ceremony, one Indian member of the congregation remarked, with tears in his eyes, that both the canonization of Juan Diego and the existence of the Guadalupe basilica itself «symbolize for us the care of the Catholic Church in our struggle for the recognition of our rights, and for a just and dignified life.» After the ceremony the Pope returned to the residence of the apostolic nuncio, where he will rest until Thursday afternoon. Then he will preside at another ceremony at the same basilica: the beatification of Juan Bautista and Jacinto de los Angeles-- two Indian laymen who died for the faith in 1700.

After his death in 1548, St. Juan Diego became on of the most popular heroes of Christians in the New world. In 1737, Our Lady of Guadalupe was proclaimed the Patroness of Mexico, and in 1910 the Patroness of all the Americas. The Guadalupe shrine now attracts millions of pilgrims every year.