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'{{Infobox church | name = Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral | fullname = Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven | native_name = {{native name|es|Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos}} | image = File:Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral - panoramio.jpg | caption = Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral and the Metropolitan Tabernacle. | map_type = | map_size = | map_caption = | location = [[Mexico City]], Mexico | coordinates = {{coord|19.43439420|-99.13308240|format=dms|type:landmark_source:googlemaps_region:MX-CMX|display=inline,title}} | denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | tradition = [[Roman Rite]] | dedication = [[Assumption of Mary]] | consecrated date = 2 February 1656<ref>{{cite web| title=Dedications of the Cathedral of Mexico| url=http://www.arquidiocesismexico.org.mx/Hist%20Fabrica%20Material%20Dedicaciones.html| publisher=Archdiocese of Mexico| year=2011| language=es| access-date=2014-09-17| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311002014/http://www.arquidiocesismexico.org.mx/Hist%20Fabrica%20Material%20Dedicaciones.html| archive-date=2012-03-11| url-status=dead}}</ref> | status = [[Cathedral]] | heritage_designation = | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico (city)|Mexico]] | archbishop = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Carlos Aguiar Retes]] | architect = [[Claudio de Arciniega]]<br />[[Juan Gómez de Trasmonte]]<br />[[José Eduardo de Herrera]]<br />[[José Damián Ortiz de Castro]]<br />[[Manuel Tolsá]] | style = [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Plateresque]], [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]], [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] | general_contractor = | groundbreaking = 1573 | completed date = 1813 | construction_cost = | capacity = | length = {{convert|128|m|ft}} | width = {{convert|59|m|ft}} | width_nave = | height = {{convert|67|m|ft}} | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | materials = Chiluca, stone, [[tezontle]] | website = {{official URL}} }} The '''Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven''' ({{lang-es|Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos}}) is the [[cathedral]] church of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico]].<ref name="View of Guadalupe">{{cite web |url=http://www.peerlesstravel.com/view/176:11/israel/Guadalupe/ |title=View of Guadalupe |access-date=2012-05-22 |publisher=PEERLESS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428213219/http://peerlesstravel.com/view/176:11/israel/Guadalupe/ |archive-date=2012-04-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is situated on top of the former [[Aztec]] sacred precinct near the [[Templo Mayor]] on the northern side of the [[Plaza de la Constitución]] (Zócalo) in the [[historic center of Mexico City]]. The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813<ref name="historic"/> around the original church that was constructed soon after the [[Spanish conquest]] of [[Tenochtitlan]], eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect [[Claudio de Arciniega]] planned the construction, drawing inspiration from [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] cathedrals in Spain.<ref name="Encarta">{{cite web|url=http://es.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761586713/Catedral_de_M%C3%A9xico.html |title=Catedral metropolitana de México |access-date=2008-09-18 |publisher=MSN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412145647/http://es.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761586713/Catedral_de_M%C3%A9xico.html |archive-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to the long time it took to build it, just under 250 years, virtually all the main architects, painters, sculptors, gilding masters and other plastic artists of the [[Viceroyalty of New Spain|viceroyalty]] worked at some point in the construction of the enclosure. The long construction time also led to the integration of a number of architectural styles in its design, including the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]], [[Churrigueresque]], [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] styles, as they came into vogue over the centuries. It furthermore allowed the cathedral to include different ornaments, paintings, sculptures and furniture in its interior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=111&z=14|title=4.3 Artífices de la Catedral de México1|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|language=es|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233943/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=111&z=14|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2.13 Estilos artísticos de la Catedral|language=es|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=51&z=12|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral website|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803231514/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=51&z=12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="historic"/> The project was a point of social cohesion, because it involved so many generations and social classes, including ecclesiastical authorities, government authorities, and different religious orders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=114&z=4|title=1. Historia de la Catedral de México Introducción1|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|language=es|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2020-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117004134/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=114&z=4|url-status=live}}</ref> The influence of the Catholic Church on public life has meant that the building was often the scene of historically significant events in [[New Spain]] and independent Mexico. These include the coronation of [[Agustín de Iturbide]] and [[Ana María Huarte]] as [[First Mexican Empire|emperors of Mexico]] by the President of the Congress; the preservation of the funeral remains of the aforementioned emperor; burial, until 1925, of several of the independence heroes, such as [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla]] and [[José María Morelos]]; the disputes between liberals and conservatives caused by the separation of the church and the state in the [[Reform laws|Reform]]; the closure of the building in the days of the [[Cristero War]]; and the [[Celebration of Mexican political anniversaries in 2010|celebrations of the bicentennial of independence]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=155&z=30|title=Restos de líderes independentistas en la Catedral de México|language=es|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803231631/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=155&z=30|url-status=live}}</ref> The cathedral faces south. It is approximately {{convert|59|m|ft}} wide by {{convert|128|m|ft}} long, with a height of {{convert|67|m|ft}} to the tip of the towers. It consists of two [[bell tower]]s, a central [[dome]], and three main [[Portal (architecture)|portals]]. It has four [[façade]]s which contain [[Portal (architecture)|portal]]s flanked with columns and statues. It has five naves consisting of 51&nbsp;vaults, 74&nbsp;arches and 40&nbsp;columns. The two [[bell tower]]s contain 25 bells. The tabernacle, adjacent to the cathedral, contains the [[baptistery]] and serves to register the parishioners. There are five large, ornate altars, a [[sacristy]], a choir, a choir area, a corridor and a capitulary room. Fourteen of the cathedral's sixteen [[chapel]]s are open to the public. Each chapel is dedicated to a different saint or saints, and each was sponsored by a [[Confraternity|religious guild]]. The chapels contain ornate [[altar]]s, [[altarpiece]]s, [[retablo]]s, paintings, furniture and sculptures. The cathedral is home to two of the largest 18th-century [[organ (music)|organ]]s in the Americas. There is a [[crypt]] underneath the cathedral that holds the remains of many former archbishops. The cathedral has approximately 150&nbsp;windows.<ref name="historic">{{cite book |title=Mexico City Historic Center |last=Galind |first=Carmen |author2=Magdelena Galindo |year=2002 |publisher=Ediciones Nueva Guia |location=Mexico City |isbn=968-5437-29-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/mexicocityhistor0000unse/page/41 41–49] |url=https://archive.org/details/mexicocityhistor0000unse/page/41 }}</ref> Over the centuries, the cathedral has suffered damage. A fire in 1967 destroyed a significant part of the cathedral's interior. The restoration work that followed uncovered a number of important documents and artwork that had previously been hidden. Although a solid foundation was built for the cathedral,<ref name="EncMex">{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Alvarez |editor-first=Jose Rogelio |encyclopedia=Enciclopedia de Mexico |title=Catedral de Mexico |year=2000 |volume=3 |location=Mexico City |isbn=1-56409-034-5|language=es}}</ref> the soft clay soil it is built on has been a threat to its structural integrity. Dropping [[water table]]s and accelerated sinking caused the structure to be added to the [[World Monuments Fund]] list of the 100&nbsp;Most Endangered Sites. Restoration working beginning in the 1990s stabilized the cathedral and it was removed from the endangered list in 2000.<ref name="Sacred Destinations">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-cathedral.htm |title=Metropolitan Cathedral Mexico City |access-date=2008-09-18 |publisher=Sacred Destinations |archive-date=2020-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807043514/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-cathedral |url-status=live }}</ref> {{TOClimit|limit=3}} ==History== ===Background: The Major Church=== [[File:Mexico Dic 06 045 1.jpg|thumb|right|The cathedral, as seen from Madero street]] [[File:Catedral Metropolitana, México D.F., México, 2013-10-16, DD 79.JPG|thumb|upright|Main entrance]] After the [[Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire]], and after [[Hernán Cortés]] returned from exploring what is today [[Honduras]], the conquistadors decided to build a church on the site of the [[Templo Mayor]] of the Aztec City of [[Tenochtitlan]] in order to consolidate Spanish power over the newly conquered territory. There is evidence of the existence of a great major temple dedicated to the god [[Quetzalcoatl]], a temple dedicated to the god [[Huītzilōpōchtli]]<ref name="Krickeberg">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fbVVAAAAMAAJ|title=Las antiguas culturas mexicanas|author=Walter Krickeberg|publisher=Economic Culture Fund|year=1964|pages=109|access-date=2020-11-30|archive-date=2021-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812180849/https://books.google.com/books?id=fbVVAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> and other minor buildings. The architect [[Martín de Sepúlveda]] was the first director of the project between 1524 and 1532, while [[Juan de Zumárraga]] was the first [[bishop]] of the [[episcopal see]] in the [[New World]]. The cathedral of Zumárraga was located in the northeastern part of what is now the cathedral. It had three naves separated by [[Tuscan order|Tuscan columns]], the central ceiling had intricate engravings made by Juan Salcedo Espinosa and gilded by [[Francisco de Zumaya]] and [[Andrés de la Concha]]. The main door was probably [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] style. The choir had 48 ceremonial chairs made by hand by [[Adrián Suster]] and [[Juan Montaño]] in ''pinus ayacahuite'' wood. For the construction, they used the stones of the destroyed temple of the god [[Huītzilōpōchtli]], god of war and principal deity of the Aztecs.<ref name="Sacred Destinations"/><ref name="historic"/> In spite of everything, this temple was soon considered insufficient for the growing importance of the capital of the [[Viceroyalty of New Spain]]. This first church was elevated to a cathedral by King [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] and [[Pope Clement VII]] according to the bull of 9 September 1534<ref>{{cite book |title=Manual compendio de el regio patronato indiano |language=es |author=Antonio Joachín Ribadeneyra Barrientos |year=1755 |pages=408–409 |oclc=433639112 |url=http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000147729&page=462 |access-date=2020-11-30 |archive-date=2021-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812180851/http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000147729&page=462 |url-status=live }}</ref> and, later, named Metropolitan by [[Pope Paul III]] in 1547.<ref name="monumentos-de-mejico">{{cite book|title=Monumentos de Mejico|year=1981|author1=Pedro Gualdi|author2=Luis Ortiz Macedo|author3=Claire Giannini Hoffman|publisher=Fomento Cultural Banamex|pages=9|oclc = 906915669}}</ref> This small, poor church, vilified by all the chroniclers who judged it unworthy of such famous new city, rendered its services well that badly for long years. Soon it was ordered that a new temple be erected, proportionate sumptuousness to the greatness of the colony more, but this new factory encountered so many obstacles for its beginning, with so many difficulties for its continuation, that the old cathedral saw passing in its narrow sumptuous ceremonies of the viceroyalty; and only when the fact that motivated them was of great importance would he prefer another church, like that of San Francisco, to raise in its huge chapel of San José de los Indios the burial mound for the funeral ceremonies of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]]. Seeing that the conclusion of the new church was long, its factory was already beginning, in 1584 it was decided to completely repair the Old Cathedral, which would certainly be little less than ruinous, to celebrate in it the Third Mexican Provincial Council.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=López-Cano |first1=Martínez |last2=Pilar |first2=María del |title= Decretos del Concilio Tercero Provincial Mexicano (1585), edición histórico crítica y estudio preliminar de Luis Martínez Ferrer|trans-title=Decrees of the Mexican Third Provincial Council (1585) |language=es |journal= Estudios de Historia Novohispana|date=June 2012 |volume=46 |issue=46 |pages=201–204 |doi=10.22201/iih.24486922e.2012.046.32492 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The church was a little longer than the front of the new cathedral; its three naves were not 30 meters wide and were covered, the central one with a step-scissors armour, those on the sides with horizontal beams. In addition to the puerta del Perdón door had another call puerta de los Canónigos door, and perhaps a third was left to the Placeta del Marqués.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=16&z=1|title=La Primitiva Catedral de México1|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|language=es|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804002812/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=16&z=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Years later, the cathedral was small for its function. In 1544, the ecclesiastical authorities had already ordered the construction of a new and more sumptuous cathedral. {{Gallery | title = '''The cathedrals of Jaén and Valladolid inspired that of Mexico City.''' | align = center | style = text-align:center; | width = 160 | height = 120 |File:Jaén Cathedral.png | View of the [[Jaén Cathedral]]. |File:Valladolid (España), Catedral. Proyecto ideal de Juan de Herrera, según Chueca-Goitia..JPG |Project of the [[Valladolid Cathedral]]. }} ===Start of the work=== {{quote|Almost all the American cathedrals of this first Renaissance period follow the model of that of Jaén, whose first stone was laid in 1540. With a rectangular plan and, at most with the main chapel octagonal, are the cathedrals of Mexico City, Puebla ... (...) It was mainly inspired by the Cathedral of Jaén in 1540, with a rectangular plan and a flat chevet, although it is probable that it was also seduced by the Herrerian model of that of Valladolid, the relationship of the Valladolid Cathedral, projected in 1580, with the [Hispanic] American cathedrals has not been sufficiently taken into account. |Extracted from ''El Arte Hispanoamericano'' (1988).<ref name="El_arte_hispanoamericano">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4Kui3zXMigC|title=El arte hispanoamericano|year=1988|author=Fernando Arellano|publisher=[[Universidad Católica Andrés Bello]]|pages=88–91|isbn=9789802440177|access-date=2020-11-30|archive-date=2020-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726085749/https://books.google.com/books?id=_4Kui3zXMigC|url-status=live}}</ref>}} [[File:Croquis de Catedral Metropolitana CD Mexico.svg|thumb|right|Sketch of the Cathedral]] In 1552, an agreement was reached whereby the cost of the new cathedral would be shared by the [[Spanish Crown]], the [[Encomienda|Comendadores]] and the Indians under the direct authority of the Archbishop of New Spain.<ref name="Sacred Destinations"/> The initial plans for the foundation of the new cathedral began in 1562, as part of the project for the construction of the work, then archbishop [[Alonso de Montúfar]] would have proposed a monumental construction composed of seven naves and based on the design of the [[Seville Cathedral]]; a project that, according to Montúfar himself, would take 10 or 12 years. The weight of a work of such dimensions in a subsoil of swampy origin would require a special foundation. Initially, cross beams were placed to build a platform, which required high costs and constant draining, in the end this project would be abandoned not only for the aforementioned cost, but for the floods suffered by the city center. It is then that, supported by indigenous techniques, solid wooden logs are injected at great depth, about twenty thousand of these logs in an area of six thousand square meters. The project is reduced from the original seven naves to only five: one central, two processional and two lateral for the 16 chapels. The construction began with the designs and models created by [[Claudio de Arciniega]] and [[Juan Miguel de Agüero]], inspired by the Spanish cathedrals of [[Jaén Cathedral|Jaén]] and [[Valladolid Cathedral|Valladolid]].<ref name="Encarta"/> In 1571, with some delay, the [[List of viceroys of New Spain|viceroy]] [[Martín Enríquez de Almanza]] and the [[List of archbishops of Mexico|archbishop]] [[Pedro Moya de Contreras]] placed the first stone of the present church. The cathedral began to be built in 1573 around the existing church which was demolished when the works advanced sufficiently to house the basic functions of the church. The work began with a north–south orientation, contrary to that of most cathedrals, due to the waterfalls of the subsoil that would affect the building with a traditional east–west orientation, decision taken 1570.<ref name="EncMex"/> First the chapter house and the sacristy were built; the construction of the vaults and the naves took a hundred years. ===Construction development=== [[File:Mexico_City,_Metropolitan_Cathedral,_Kodachrome_by_Chalmers_Butterfield.jpg|thumb|right|The cathedral in the 1940s]] The beginning of the works was met with a muddy and unstable terrain that complicated the works, because of this, the [[Tezontle]] and the Chiluca Stone were favored as building materials in several areas, on the quarry, as these are lighter. In 1581, the walls began to be erected<ref name="EncMex"/> and in 1585 the works began in the first chapel, at that time the names of the stonemasons who worked on the work were: in the chapels were carved by Juan Arteaga and the niches Hernán García de Villaverde, who also worked on the Toral pillars whose mediums were sculpted by Martín Casillas. In 1615, the walls reached half its total height.<ref name="EncMex"/> The works of the interior began in 1623 by the sacristy,<ref name="ciudadmexico">{{cite web |url=http://www.ciudadmexico.com.mx/atractivos/catedral.htm |title=Cathedral Metropolitan |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-date=2020-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809003435/http://www.ciudadmexico.com.mx/atractivos/catedral.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the early church was demolished at its conclusion. What is now the vestry was where Mass was conducted after the first church was finally torn down.<ref name="arsvirtual-history">{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City –History|url=http://www.arsvirtual.com/visitas/visitas/catedral_mexico/alta/mexico/mexico.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313170508/http://www.arsvirtual.com/visitas/visitas/catedral_mexico/alta/mexico/mexico.htm |archive-date=March 13, 2008|access-date=2008-09-18}}</ref> On the 21st September 1629, the works were interrupted by the [[1629 Mexico City flood|flood suffered by the city]],<ref name="EncMex"/> in which the water reached two meters in height, causing damage in the main square,<ref name="EncMex"/> today called [[Zócalo|Plaza del Zócalo]], and other parts of the city. Due to the damage, a project was started to build the new cathedral in the [[Tacubaya]] hills,<ref name="EncMex"/> west of the city but the idea was discarded and the project continued at the same location, under the direction of [[Juan Gómez de Trasmonte]], the interior was finished and consecrated in 1667.<ref name="ciudadmexico" /> The archbishop [[Marcos Ramírez de Prado y Ovando]] made the second dedication on 22 December 1667, the year in which the last vault was closed. The date of consecration, (lacking, at that time, of bell towers, main façade and other elements built in the 18th century), the cost of construction was equivalent to 1 759 000 [[peso]]s. This cost was covered in good part by the [[List of Spanish monarchs|Spanish kings]] [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]], [[Philip III of Spain|Philip III]], [[Philip IV of Spain|Philip IV]] and [[Charles II of Spain|Charles II]].<ref name="monumentos-de-mejico"/> Annexes to the central core of the building would be added over the years the Seminary College, the Chapel of the Animas, and the buildings of the Tabernacle and the Curia. In 1675, the central part of the main façade was completed, the work of the architect [[Cristóbal de Medina Vargas]], which included the figure of the [[Assumption of Mary]], the title to which the cathedral is dedicated, and the sculptures of [[James the Great]] and [[Andrew the Apostle]] guarding it. During the remainder of the 17th century, the first body of the east tower was built, by the architects Juan Lozano and Juan Serrano. The main portal of the building and portals on the east side were built in 1688 and that of the west in 1689. The six buttresses that support the structure on the side of its main facade and the bottoms that support the vaults of the main nave were completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=28&z=6|title=1.2.9 Las Obras de la Catedral Durante el Resto del Siglo XVII1|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|language=es|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233855/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=28&z=6|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 18th century little was done to advance in the completion of the construction of the cathedral; largely because, now completed in its interior, and handy for all the ceremonies that were offered, there had not the urgent need to continue working on what was missing. Although the work had in fact been suspended, some works in the interior continued; by 1737 it was the master builder Domingo de Arrieta. He made, in the company of [[José Eduardo de Herrera]], master of architecture, the stands that surround the choir. In 1742 Manuel de Álvarez, master of architecture, ruled with Herrera himself about the presbytery project presented by [[Jerónimo de Balbás]]. In 1752, on 17 September, a cross of iron, with more than three [[Vara (unit of length)|vara]]s, with its vane, was placed on the crown of the lantern tower of this church, engraved on one side and on the other side the prayer of the Sanctus Deus, and in the middle of it a fourth-by-fourth oval, in which a wax of Agnus was placed on one side with its window and on the other side a sheet in which [[Saint Prisca]], lawyer of the rays, was sculpted. The ear of the cross is of two varas, and all its weight is of fourteen [[arroba]]s; it is nailed to a quarry base.<ref>{{cite web|title=1.2.10 Trabajos Durante el Siglo XVIII1|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=29&z=6|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral official website|language=es|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803231845/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=29&z=6|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1787, the architect [[José Damián Ortiz de Castro]] was appointed, after a competition in which it imposed the projects of [[José Joaquín García de Torres]] and [[Isidro Vicente de Balbás]], to direct the construction works of the bell towers, the main facade and the dome. For the construction of the towers, the Mexican architect Ortiz de Castro designed a project to make them effective against earthquakes; a second body that looks piercing and a bell-shaped finishing. His direction in the project continued until his death in 1793. When he was replaced by [[Manuel Tolsá]], architect and sculptor driver of the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]], who arrived in the country in 1791. Tolsá is in charge of completing the work of the cathedral. He reconstructs the dome that was low and disproportionate, designs a project that consists of opening a larger ring on which builds a circular platform, to lift from there a much higher roof lantern. Integrates the torches, statues and balustrades. He crown the facade with figures symbolizing the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity).<ref>{{cite book|title=Obras maestras del arte colonial : exposición homenaje a Manuel Toussaint (1890-1990) : catálogo.|location=Mexico City|author=Manuel Toussaint|year=1990|oclc=25913924}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=31&z=6|title=1.2.12 Conclusión de la Obra1|website=Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral|language=es|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804001310/http://www.catedralmetropolitanademexico.mx/apps/publications/info/?a=31&z=6|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="EncMex"/> <gallery mode="packed" caption="Historical photographs of the cathedral."> File:Nebel Voyage 48 Plaza Mayor de Mexico.jpg|''Plaza Mayor de México (today [[Zócalo|Plaza del Zócalo]])'', 1836 File:Nebel Mexican War 12 Scott in Mexico City.jpg|''General Scott's entrance into Mexico'', 1851 File:Julio Michaud E Hijo c1860 n7 Cathedral.JPG |View of the cathedral {{circa|1860}} File:Julio Michaud E Hijo c1860 n6 Sagrario Cathedrale.JPG |View of the Tabernacle c. 1860 File:Catedral Mexico 1880-1900.tif |View of the cathedral between 1880 and 1887, when the [[Aztec sun stone]] was moved to the Museo de la Calle de Moneda </gallery> ==Exterior== ===Facades and portals=== [[File:MainPortalCathedralDF.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Main portal with view of clock]] The main facade of the cathedral faces south. The main [[portal (architecture)|portal]] is centered in the main [[facade]] and is the highest of the cathedral's three portals. Statues of [[Saint Peter]] and [[Paul the Apostle]] stand between the columns of the portal, while [[Saint Andrew]] and [[James the Just]] are depicted on the secondary doorway. In the center of this doorway is a [[High relief#High relief|high relief]] of the [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption of the Virgin Mary]], to whom the cathedral is dedicated.<ref name="historic"/> This image is flanked by images of [[Saint Matthew]] and [[Saint Andrew]]. The [[coat of arms of Mexico]] is above the doorway, with the eagle's wings outstretched. There is a clock tower at the very top of the portal with statues representing Faith, Hope and Charity, which was created by sculptor [[Manuel Tolsá]].<ref name="EncMex"/> The west facade was constructed in 1688 and rebuilt in 1804. It has a three-section portal with images of the [[Four Evangelists]].<ref name="EncMex"/> The west portal has high reliefs depicting [[Jesus]] handing the [[Keys of Heaven]] to Saint Peter. The east facade is similar to the west facade. The reliefs on the east portal show a ship carrying the four [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]], with Saint Peter at the helm.<ref name="historic"/> The title of this relief is ''The ship of the Church sailing the seas of Eternity.''<ref name="EncMex"/> The northern facade, built during the 16th&nbsp;century in the [[Herrerian|Renaissance Herrera]] style, is oldest part of the cathedral and was named after [[Juan de Herrera]], architect of the [[El Escorial]] monastery in Spain.<ref name="historic"/> While the eastern and western facades are older than most of the rest of the building, their third level has [[Solomonic column]]s which are associated with the Baroque period. All the high reliefs of the portals of the cathedral were inspired by the work of [[Flemish people|Flemish]] painter [[Peter Paul Rubens]].<ref name="historic"/> ===Bell towers=== The [[bell tower]]s are the work of [[Xalapa]]n artist José Damián Ortiz de Castro. They are capped with bell-shaped roofs made of [[tezontle]] covered in ''chiluca'', a white stone. Ortiz de Castro was in charge of the cathedral's construction in the latter half of the 18th&nbsp;century until he died, unexpectedly. [[Manuel Tolsá]] of [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], who had built other notable buildings in Mexico City, was hired to finish the cathedral. At this point, the cathedral had already been 240&nbsp;years in the making. He added the neo-Classic structure housing the clock, the statues of the three theological virtues ([[Theological virtues|Faith, Hope, and Charity]]), the high [[balustrade]] surrounding the building, and the dome that rises over the [[transept]]. [[File:Mexico City Cathedral bell tower.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The west bell tower]] The cathedral has 25&nbsp;[[Bell (instrument)|bells]]—eighteen hang in the east bell tower and seven in the west tower. The largest bell is named the ''Santa Maria de Guadalupe'' and weighs around {{convert|13000|kg|lb}}. Other major bells are named the ''Doña Maria'', which weighs {{Convert|6900|kg}}, and ''La Ronca'' ("the hoarse one"), named so because of its harsh tone. Doña Maria and La Ronca were placed in 1653 while the largest bell was placed later in 1793.<ref name="historic"/> The statues in the west tower are the work of [[José Zacarías Cora]] and represent [[Pope Gregory VII]], [[Saint Augustine]], [[Leander of Seville]], St. [[Fulgentius of Écija]], St.[[Francis Xavier]], and [[Saint Barbara]]. The statues in the east tower are by [[Santiago Cristóbal Sandoval]] and depict Emilio, [[Rose of Lima]], [[Mary (mother of Jesus)]], [[Ambrogio]], [[Jerome]], [[Philip of Jesus]], [[Hippolytus of Rome]], and [[Isidore the Laborer]].<ref name="EncMex"/> In 1947, a novice bell ringer died in an accident when he tried to move one of the bells while standing under it. The bell swung back and hit him in the head, killing him instantly. The bell was then "punished" by removing the clapper. In the following years, the bell was known as ''la castigada'' ("the punished one"), or ''la muda'' ("the mute one"). In 2000, the clapper was reinstalled in the bell.<ref name="eluniversal_lacastigada">{{cite web |last=Cancino |first=Fabiola |title=Restauran el reloj de la Catedral tras nueve años |publisher=El Universal Online México, S.A. de C.V |date=2006-07-21 |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/ciudad/vi_77995.html |access-date=2009-01-10 |archive-date=2009-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520015004/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/ciudad/vi_77995.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In October&nbsp;2007, a [[time capsule]] was found inside the stone ball base of a cross, in the southern bell tower of the cathedral. It was placed in 1742, supposedly to protect the building from harm. The lead box was filled with religious artifacts, coins and parchments and hidden in a hollow stone ball. The ball was marked with the date of 14&nbsp;May&nbsp;1791, when the building's topmost stone was laid. A new time capsule will be placed in the stone ball when it is closed again.<ref name="timecapsule">{{cite news |last=PMC |title=Found atop Mexico City Cathedral - Time capsule from 1791 |url=http://mexicotrucker.com/2008/01/17/found-atop-mexico-city-cathedral-time-capsule-from-1791/ |date=2008-01-17 |access-date=2008-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520001117/http://mexicotrucker.com/found-atop-mexico-city-cathedral-time-capsule-from-1791|archive-date=2009-05-20}}</ref> ===Tabernacle=== [[File:EntranceSagrariumDF.JPG|right|thumb|upright|Tabernacle's southern façade, opening out towards the Zócalo]] Situated to the right of the main cathedral, the Metropolitan Tabernacle (Spanish: ''Sagrario Metropolitano'') was built by [[Lorenzo Rodríguez]] during the height of the Baroque period between 1749 and 1760,<ref name="historic"/> to house the archives and vestments of the archbishop.<ref name="lonely">{{cite book |title=Lonely Planet Mexico City |last=Noble |first=John |year=2000 |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |location=Oakland, CA |language=es |isbn=1-86450-087-5 |pages=110–111}}</ref> It also functioned and continues to function as a place to receive [[Eucharist]] and register parishioners.<ref name="oficial">{{cite book |title= Guia Oficial Centro de la Ciudad de Mexico |last=Horz de Via |first=Elena |year=1991 |publisher=INAH-SALVAT |location=Mexico City |isbn=968-32-0540-2 |pages=28–30}}</ref> The first church built on the cathedral site also had a tabernacle, but its exact location is unknown. During the construction of the cathedral, the [[tabernacle]] was housed in what are now the Chapels of San Isidro and Our Lady of Agony of Granada. However, in the 18th&nbsp;century, it was decided to build a structure that was separate, but still connected, to the main cathedral.<ref name="oficial"/> It is constructed of ''[[tezontle]]'' (a reddish porous volcanic rock) and white stone in the shape of a [[Greek cross]] with its southern facade faces the Zócalo. It is connected to the main cathedral via the Chapel of San Isidro.<ref name="EncMex"/><ref name="historic"/> [[File:MainAltarSagrariumDF.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Tabernacle's main altar]] The interiors of each wing have separate uses. In the west wing is the [[baptistry]], in the north is the main altar, the main entrance and a notary area, separated by inside corner walls made of ''chiluca'' stone and tezontle. Chiluca, a white stone, covers the walls and floors and the tezontle frames the doors and windows. At the [[Crossing (architecture)|crossing]] of the structure is an octagonal [[dome]] framed by arches that form curved triangles where they meet at the top of the dome.<ref name="oficial"/> The principal altar is in the ornate ''Churrigueresque'' style and crafted by indigenous artist [[Pedro Patiño Ixtolinque]]. It was inaugurated in 1829.<ref name="EncMex"/> The exterior of the Baroque styled tabernacle is almost entirely adorned with decorations, such as curiously shaped niche shelves, floating drapes and many [[cherubs]]. Carvings of fruits such as grapes and [[pomegranates]] have been created to in the shape of ritual offerings, symbolizing the [[Blood of Christ]] and the Church. Among the floral elements, roses, daisies, and various types of four-petalled flowers can be found, including the indigenous ''[[chalchihuite]]''.<ref name="historic"/> The tabernacle has two main outside entrances; one to the south, facing the Zócalo and the other facing east toward Seminario Street. The southern façade is more richly decorated than the east façade. It has a theme of glorifying the Eucharist with images of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]], Church Fathers, saints who founded [[Institute of Consecrated Life|religious orders]], [[martyr]]s as well as scenes from the [[Bible]]. Zoomorphic reliefs can be found along with the anthropologic reliefs, including a rampaging lion, and the eagle from the [[coat of arms of Mexico]]. The east facade is less ambitious, but contains figures from the [[Old Testament]] as well as the images of [[John Nepomucene]] and [[Ignacio de Loyola]]. Construction dates for the phases of the tabernacle are also inscribed here.<ref name="oficial"/> ==Interior== ===Altars=== ====High Altar==== This disappeared in the 1940s. In 2000, a new altar table was made to replace the previous one. This was built in modernist style by the architect Ernesto Gómez Gallardo. ====Altar of Forgiveness==== [[File:Catedral Metropolitana, México D.F., México, 2013-10-16, DD 84.JPG|thumb|upright|right|The Altar of Forgiveness]] The Altar of Forgiveness ({{lang-es|Altar del perdón|links=no}}) is located at the front of the central nave. It is the first aspect of the interior that is seen upon entering the cathedral. It was the work of Spanish architect [[Jerónimo de Balbás]], and represents the first use of the ''estípite'' column (an inverted triangle-shaped [[pilaster]]) in the Americas.<ref name="historic"/> There are two stories about how the name of this altar came about. The first states that those condemned by the [[Spanish Inquisition]] were brought to the altar to ask for forgiveness in the next world before their execution. The second relates to painter [[Simon Pereyns]], who despite being the author of many of the works of the cathedral, was accused of [[blasphemy]]. According to the story, while Pereyns was in jail, he painted such a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary that his crime was forgiven.<ref name="forasteros">{{cite book |title= Guia de Forasteros Centro Historico Ciudad de Mexico |last=Cano de Mier |first=Olga |year=1988 |publisher=Guias Turisticas Banamex |location=Mexico City |language=es |pages=32–37 }}</ref> This altar was damaged by fire in January 1967 but has been completely restored.<ref name="historic"/> ====Altar of the Kings==== [[File:Catedral Metropolitana, México D.F., México, 2013-10-16, DD 93.JPG|upright|thumb|[[Altar of the Kings]]]] In New Spain, it was customary to dedicate the main chapel of any Spanish cathedral to the ruling king, giving it the greatest importance and artistic wealth. The Altar of the Kings ({{lang-es|Altar de los Reyes|links=no}}) was also the work of {{ill|Jerónimo de Balbás|es|Jerónimo de Balbás}}, in Mexican [[Baroque]] or [[Churrigueresque]] style.<ref name="historic"/> Balbás constructed it in cedar from 1718 to 1725.<ref name="lonely"/><ref name="RMCF">{{cite magazine|last1=Reséndiz Martínez|first1=José Francisco|last2=Olvera Coronel|first2=Lilia Patricia|last3=Vázquez Silva|first3=Luis|last4=Nieto de Pascual|first4=Cecilia|date=|title=Especies maderables y agentes patógenos del retablo de los reyes de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México|url=http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-11322013000500002&lng=es&nrm=iso|url-status=live|language=es|volume=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127160502/http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-11322013000500002&lng=es&nrm=iso|archive-date=2016-01-27|access-date=2022-01-12|number=9|work=Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales}}</ref> It was gilded and finished by Francico Martínez in 1736 and completed in 1737.<ref name="EncMex"/> It is located at the back of the cathedral, beyond the Altar of Forgiveness and the [[choir (architecture)|choir]], a space known as "[[royal chapel]]", although it does not have any grille that delimits and closes the space in the manner of similar chapels. This altar is {{convert|13.75|m|ft}} wide, {{convert|25|m|ft}} tall and {{convert|7.5|m|ft}} deep, so it presides over the main nave of the temple because it is located behind the presbytery.<ref>{{cite web|title=El Retablo de los Reyes, 'la obra más lucida y costosa de América'|url=https://redescol.ilce.edu.mx/20aniversario/componentes/proyec_colab/2009/arte_mexicano_oto09/artemex4/artmex04.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113020731/https://redescol.ilce.edu.mx/20aniversario/componentes/proyec_colab/2009/arte_mexicano_oto09/artemex4/artmex04.htm|archive-date=13 January 2022|access-date=12 January 2022|work=Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicación Educativa|language=es}}</ref> There are three main vertical bodies formed by high [[estipite]] [[Pilaster|pilasters]]. Its size and depth gave rise to the nickname ''la cueva dorada'' ("the golden cave"). Additional sculptures were created by Sebastián de Santiago.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=|title=Nuevos documentos sobre Gerónimo, Isidoro y Luis de Balbás|url=http://www.analesiie.unam.mx/index.php/analesiie/article/view/992/979|url-status=live|language=es|volume=XII|pages=77–81|doi=10.22201/iie.18703062e.1974.43.992|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113020733/http://www.analesiie.unam.mx/index.php/analesiie/article/view/992/979|archive-date=2022-01-13|access-date=2022-01-12|work=Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas de la UNAM|number=43}}</ref> It takes its name from the statues of saintly royalty which form part of its decoration,<ref name="historic" /> and is the oldest work in churrigueresque style in Mexico, taking 19&nbsp;years to complete. At the bottom, from left to right, are six female royal saints: [[Saint Margaret of Scotland]], [[Helena of Constantinople]], [[Elisabeth of Hungary]], [[Elizabeth of Aragon]], [[Cunigunde of Luxemburg|Empress Cunegunda]] and [[Edith of Wilton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Detalle del Retablo de los Reyes|url=https://redescol.ilce.edu.mx/20aniversario/componentes/proyec_colab/2009/arte_mexicano_oto09/artemex4/mexexp04.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113020734/https://redescol.ilce.edu.mx/20aniversario/componentes/proyec_colab/2009/arte_mexicano_oto09/artemex4/mexexp04.htm|archive-date=13 January 2022|access-date=12 January 2022|work=Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicación Educativa|language=es}}</ref> In the middle of the altar are six canonized kings: [[Hermenegild]], a [[Visigoth]] martyr; [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor]]; [[Edward the Confessor]]; and [[Saint Casimir|Casimir]] of Poland below, and Saints [[Louis IX of France|Louis of France]] and [[Ferdinand III of Castile]] above them. In between these kings an oil painting of the ''Adoration of the Magi'' by [[Juan Rodriguez Juarez]] shows Jesus as the ''King of kings''. The top portion features a painting of the ''Assumption of Mary'' as celestial queen flanked by oval [[bas relief]]s, one of [[Saint Joseph]] carrying the infant Jesus and the other of Saint [[Teresa of Ávila]] with a quill in her hand and the Holy Spirit above her, inspiring her to write.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fraile Martin|first=María Isabel|date=January–April 2009|title=Juan Rodríguez Juárez y su contribución al acervo pictórico de la Catedral de Puebla|url=https://revistas.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletinmonumentos/article/download/3809/3695|url-status=live|language=es|publisher=[[National Institute of Anthropology and History]]|page=63|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813032631/https://revistas.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletinmonumentos/article/download/3809/3695|archive-date=2021-08-13|access-date=2022-01-12|work=Boletín de Monumentos Histróricos {{!}} Tercera Época|number=15}}</ref> In the upper part above this, there are angels carrying the attributes of the Virgin Mary such as the Sealed Fountain, the House of Gold, the Well of Living Water, and the [[Tower of David]], and at the top is an image of God, the Father.<ref name="forasteros" /> The altar was damaged due to a fire in 1967.<ref name="RMCF2">{{cite magazine|last1=Reséndiz Martínez|first1=José Francisco|last2=Olvera Coronel|first2=Lilia Patricia|last3=Vázquez Silva|first3=Luis|last4=Nieto de Pascual|first4=Cecilia|date=|title=Especies maderables y agentes patógenos del retablo de los reyes de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México|url=http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-11322013000500002&lng=es&nrm=iso|url-status=live|language=es|volume=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127160502/http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-11322013000500002&lng=es&nrm=iso|archive-date=2016-01-27|access-date=2022-01-12|number=9|work=Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales}}</ref> This altar has been under restoration since 2003.<ref name="arsvirtual-history" /> ===Sacristy=== The Herrera door opens into the [[sacristy]], the oldest part of the cathedral. It is a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic styles. The walls hold large canvases painted by [[Cristóbal de Villalpando]], such as ''The Apotheosis of Saint Michael'', ''The Triumph of the Eucharist'', ''The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant'', and ''The Virgin of the Apocalypse''.<ref name="historic"/> The ''Virgin of the Apocalypse'' depicts the vision of [[John of Patmos]].<ref name="Epoca">{{cite journal |date=1 April 2002 |title=Catedral Metropolitano: 478 años de historia |journal=Epoca |volume=565 |pages=52–59 |publisher=Archdiocese of Mexico |location=Mexico City |language=es }}</ref> Two other canvases, ''Entering Jerusalem'' and ''The Assumption of the Virgin'', painted by [[Juan Correa]], are also here.<ref name="historic"/> An additional painting, attributed to [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], hangs in the Sacristy. On the north wall, there is a niche that holds a statue of the crucifix with a Christ image sculpted in ivory. Behind this, is another mural that depicts the [[Juan Diego]]'s of [[Virgin of Guadalupe|Our Lady of Guadalupe]]. The Sacristy used to house Juan Diego's cloak, upon which the Virgin's image purportedly appears, but after massive flooding in 1629, it was removed from the Sacristy to better protect it.<ref name="Epoca"/> A cabinet on the west wall of the Sacristy, under the ''Virgin of the Apocalypse'' painting, once held golden [[chalice (cup)|chalice]]s and cups trimmed with precious stones, as well as other utensils.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} In 1957, The wooden floor and platform around the perimeter of the Sacristy were replaced with stone.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} ===Chapels=== The cathedral's sixteen [[chapel]]s were each assigned to a [[Confraternity|religious guild]], and each is dedicated to a saint. Each of the two side naves contain seven chapels. The other two were created later on the eastern and western sides of the cathedral. These last two are not open to the public.<ref name="historic"/> The fourteen chapels in the east and west naves are listed below. The first seven are in the east nave, listed from north to south, and the last seven are in the west nave. ====Chapel of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada==== [[File:ChapelAgoniesGranadaDF.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Chapel of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada]] The Chapel of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada ({{lang-es|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias de Granada|links=no}}) was built in the first half of the 17th&nbsp;century and originally served as the sacristy. It is a medieval-style chapel with a ribbed [[Vault (architecture)|vault]] and two relatively simple altarpieces. The narrow [[altarpiece]] contains an oval painting of ''[[Raphael (angel)|Saint Raphael, Archangel]] and the young Tobias'', a 16th&nbsp;century painting attributed to Flemish painter [[Maerten de Vos]]. At the top of this altarpiece is a painting of ''[[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]]'', and above this is a painting of the ''[[Last Supper]]''. At the back of the chapel is a churrigueresque painting of ''Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada''. ====Chapel of Saint Isidore==== The Chapel of [[Isidore the Laborer|Saint Isidore]] ({{lang-es|Capilla de San Isidro|links=no}}) was originally built as an annex between 1624 and 1627, and was once used as the [[baptistery]]. Its vault contains plaster casts representing Faith, Hope, Charity, and Justice, considered to be basic values in the Catholic religion. After the Tabernacle was built, it was converted into a chapel and its door was reworked in a churrigueresque style. ====Chapel of the Immaculate Conception==== [[File:ChapelImmacConceptionDF.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Chapel of the Immaculate Conception]] The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception ({{lang-es|Capilla de la Inmaculada Concepción|links=no}}) was built between 1642 and 1648. It has a churrigueresque altarpiece which, due to the lack of columns, most likely dates from the 18th&nbsp;century. The altar is framed with molding—instead of columns—and a painting of the Immaculate Conception presides over it. The altar is surrounded by paintings by [[José de Ibarra]] relating to the [[Passion of Christ]] and various saints. The chapel also contains a canvas of [[Saint Christopher]] painted by Simon Pereyns in 1588, and the ''[[Flagellation]]'' by [[Baltasar de Echave Orio]], painted in 1618. The altarpiece on the right side<ref>In the chapels, the terms "left-hand" and "right-hand" are used with reference to the main altar of each chapel.</ref> is also dedicated to the [[Immaculate Conception]] and was donated by the [[Nacional Monte de Piedad|College of Saints Peter and Paul]]. This chapel holds the remains of [[Franciscan]] friar [[Antonio Margil|Antonio Margil de Jesús]] who was evangelized in what is now the north of Mexico. ====Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe==== The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe ({{lang-es|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe|links=no}}) was built in 1660. It was the first baptistery of the cathedral and for a long time was the site for the Brotherhood of the Most Holy Sacrament, which had many powerful benefactors. It is decorated in a 19th&nbsp;century neo-classic style by the architect Antonio Gonzalez Vazquez, director of the Academy of San Carlos. The main altarpiece is dedicated to the [[Virgin of Guadalupe]] and the sides altars are dedicated to [[John the Baptist]] and San Luis Gonzaga. ====Chapel of Our Lady of Antigua==== [[File:Nuestra Señora la Antigua.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Our Lady of Antigua]] The Chapel of Our Lady of Antigua ({{lang-es|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de La Antigua|links=no}}) was sponsored and built between 1653 and 1660 by a brotherhood of musicians and organists, which promoted devotion to this Virgin. Its altarpiece contains a painting of the Virgin, a copy of one found in the [[Seville Cathedral|Cathedral of Seville]]. This copy was brought to New Spain by a merchant. Two other paintings show the birth of the Virgin and her presentation. Both were painted by Nicolás Rodriguez Juárez. =====Chapel of Saint Peter===== The Chapel of Saint Peter ({{lang-es|Capilla de San Pedro|links=no}}) was built between 1615 and 1620, and contains three highly decorated Baroque altarpieces from the 17th&nbsp;century. The altar at the back is dedicated to Saint Peter, whose sculpture presides over the altar. It is surrounded by early 17th&nbsp;century paintings relating to his life, painted by Baltasar de Echave Orio. To the right is an altarpiece dedicated to the [[Holy Family]], with two paintings by [[Juan de Aguilera]] of [[Florence]] called ''The Holy Family in the workshop of Saint Joseph'' and ''Birth of the Savior''. The altarpiece to the left of the main altarpiece is dedicated to [[Thérèse of Lisieux|Saint Theresa of Jesus]] whose image also appears in the chapel's window. It includes four paintings on sheets of metal that depict scenes from the [[birth of Jesus]]. Five oil paintings illustrate scenes from the life of Saint Theresa, and above this is a semi-circular painting of the [[coronation of Mary]]. All these works were created in the 17th&nbsp;century by Baltasar de Echave y Rioja.<ref name="forasteros"/> This chapel is home to the Niño Cautivo (Captive Child) a [[Niño Dios of Mexico|Child Jesus]] figure that was brought to Mexico from Spain. It was sculpted in the 16th century by Juan Martínez Montañez in Spain and purchased by the cathedral. However, on its way to [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]], pirates attacked the ship it was on and sacked it. To get the image back, a large ransom was paid. Today, the image is in the Chapel of San Pedro or De las Reliquias.<ref name="cjaramillo">{{cite web|url=http://dti.inah.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4072&Itemid=441 |title=Niños Jesus que obran milagros |first=Carmen |last=Mondragón Jaramillo |date=7 January 2010 |publisher=[[INAH]] |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Nino Jesus that performs miracles |access-date=January 20, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Traditionally, the image has been petitioned by those seeking release from restrictions or traps, especially financial problems or drug addiction or alcoholism.<ref name="secuestrados">{{cite news |title=Santo Niño Cautivo, patrono de los secuestrados |author=El Sol de México |url=http://www.oem.com.mx/oem/notas/n924646.htm |newspaper=[[Organizacion Editorial Mexicana|El Sol de México]] |location=Mexico City |date=9 November 2008 |access-date=January 20, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Holy Niño Cautivo, patron of the kidnapped |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204038/http://www.oem.com.mx/oem/notas/n924646.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The cult to the Niño Cautivo is considered to be "inactive" by INAH.<ref name="arraigo">{{cite news |title=Tiene arraigo en México la veneración al Niño Dios |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/404275.html |agency=Notimex |newspaper=[[El Universal (Mexico City)|El Universal]] |location=Mexico City |date=2 February 2007 |access-date=January 20, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Veneration of the Niño Dios has deep roots in Mexico |archive-date=4 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204190114/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/404275.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this particular image has made a comeback since 2000 as one to petition when a family member is abducted and held for ransom.<ref name="secuestrados"/> ====Chapel of Christ and of the Reliquaries==== [[File:ChapelChristConquistadorsDF.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Chapel of Christ of the Reliquaries]] The Chapel of Christ and of the Reliquaries ({{lang-es|Capilla del Santo Cristo y de las Reliquias|links=no}}) was built in 1615 and designed with ultra-Baroque details which are often difficult to see in the poorly lit interior.<ref name="historic"/> It was originally known as the ''Christ of the Conquistadors''. That name came from an image of Christ that was supposedly donated to the cathedral by [[Emperor Charles V]]. Over time, so many [[reliquary|reliquaries]] were left on its main altar that its name was eventually changed. Of 17th&nbsp;century ornamentation, the main altarpiece alternates between carvings of rich [[foliage]] and small heads on its columns in the main portion and small sculptures of angels on its [[telamon]]s in the secondary portion. Its niches hold sculptures of saints framing the main body. Its crucifix is from the 17th&nbsp;century. The [[predella]] is finished with sculptures of angels, and also contains small 17th&nbsp;paintings of martyred saints by Juan de Herrera. Behind these paintings, hidden compartments contain some of the numerous reliquaries left here. Its main painting was done by Jose de Ibarra and dated 1737. Surrounding the altar is a series of paintings on canvas, depicting the ''Passion of Christ'' by Jose Villegas, painted in the 17th&nbsp;century. On the right-hand wall, an altar dedicated to the Virgin of the Confidence is decorated with numerous churrigueresque figurines tucked away in niches, columns and top pieces.<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of the Holy Angels and Archangels==== The Chapel of the Holy Angels and Archangels ({{lang-es|Capilla de los Ángeles|links=no}}) was finished in 1665 with Baroque altarpieces decorated with [[Solomonic column]]s. It is dedicated to the [[Archangel Michael]], who is depicted as a medieval [[knight]].<ref name="historic"/> It contains a large main altarpiece with two smaller altarpieces both decorated by Juan Correa.<ref name="lonely"/> The main altarpiece is dedicated to the seven archangels, who are represented by sculptures, in niches surrounding images of Saint Joseph, Mary and Christ. Above this scene are the Holy Spirit and [[God the Father]]. The left-hand altarpiece is of similar design and is dedicated to the Guardian Angel, whose sculpture is surrounded with pictures arranged to show the angelic hierarchy. To the left of this, a scene shows Saint Peter being released from prison, and to the right, Saul, later Saint Paul, being knocked from his horse, painted by Juan Correa in 1714. The right-hand altarpiece is dedicated to the Guardian Angel of Mexico.<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of Saints Cosme and Damian==== The Chapel of Saints Cosme and Damian ({{lang-es|Capilla de San Cosme y San Damián|links=no}}) was built because these two saints were commonly invoked during a time when New Spain suffered from the many diseases brought by the Conquistadors. The main altarpiece is Baroque, probably built in the 17th&nbsp;century. Oil paintings on wood contain scenes from physician saints, and are attributed to painter Sebastian Lopez Davalos, during the second half of the 17th&nbsp;century. The chapel contains one small altarpiece which came from the Franciscan church in [[Zinacantepec]], to the west of Mexico City, and is dedicated to the [[birth of Jesus]].<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of Saint Joseph==== [[File:2013-12-22 El Señor del cacao anagoria.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Lord of the cacao beans]] The Chapel of Saint Joseph ({{lang-es|Capilla de San José|links=no}}), built between 1653 and 1660, contains an image of ''Our Lord of [[Cacao bean|Cacao]]'', an image of Christ most likely from the 16th&nbsp;century. Its name was inspired from a time when many indigenous worshipers would give their [[alms]] in the form of cocoa beans. Churrigueresque in style and containing a [[Graffito (drawing technique)|graffito]] statue of [[Saint Joseph]], patron saint of [[New Spain]],<ref name="historic"/> the main altarpiece is Baroque and is from the 18th&nbsp;century. This once belonged to the Church of Our Lady of Monserrat. This altar contains statues and cubicles containing busts of the Apostles, but contains no paintings.<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude==== [[File:CloseUpSeñoraSoledadDF.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Image of Our Lady of Solitude]] The Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude ({{lang-es|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad|links=no}}) was originally built in honor of the workers who built the cathedral. It contains three Baroque altarpieces. The main altarpiece is supported by [[caryatid]]s and small angels as [[telamon]]s, to uphold the base of the main body. It is dedicated to the Virgin of Solitude of [[Oaxaca]], whose image appears in the center. The surrounding 16th&nbsp;century paintings are by Pedro Ramírez, and depict scenes from the life of Christ.<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of Saint Eligius==== The Chapel of Saint Eligius ({{lang-es|Capilla de San Eligio|links=no}}), also known as the Chapel of the Lord of Safe Expeditions ({{lang-es|Capilla del Señor del Buen Despacho|links=no}}), was built by the first [[silversmith]] guild, who donated the images of the Conception and [[Saint Eligius]] to whom the chapel was formerly dedicated. The chapel was redecorated in the 19th&nbsp;century, and the image of ''Our Lord of Good Sending'' was placed here, named thus, since many supplicants reported having their prayers answered quickly. The image is thought to be from the 16th&nbsp;century and sent as a gift from [[Infante Carlos, Count of Molina|Charles V of Spain]].<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows==== The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows ({{lang-es|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores|links=no}}), formerly known as the Chapel of the Lord's Supper ({{lang-es|Capilla de la Santa Cena|links=no}}), was built in 1615. It was originally dedicated to the [[Last Supper]] since a painting of this event was once kept here. It was later remodeled in a Neo-classical style, with three altarpieces added by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez. The main altarpiece contains an image of the ''Virgin of Sorrows'' sculpted in wood and painted by Francisco Terrazas, at the request of Emperor [[Maximilian I of Mexico]]. On the left-hand wall a ladder leads to a series of crypts which hold most of the remains of past archbishops of Mexico. The largest and grandest of these crypts contains the remains of Juan de Zumarraga, the first archbishop of Mexico.<ref name="forasteros"/> ====Chapel of the Lord of Good dispatch==== [[File:Señor del buen despacho.JPG|thumb|upright|right|The Lord of Good Dispatch]] The Chapel of the Lord of Good dispatch ({{lang-es|Capilla del Señor del Buen Despacho|links=no}}) was premiered on December 8, 1648, and was dedicated to the silversmiths' guild, who placed two images of solid silver, one of the most pure conception and another of San Eligio or Eloy. The decoration of the entire chapel is neoclassical style belongs to the first half of the nineteenth century. ====Chapel of Saint Philip of Jesus==== [[File:EXPRestos Agustin de Iturbide 27Sep2010 CatMetMex.JPG|thumb|left|Liturgical celebration in honor of Emperor and General Agustín de Iturbide in the Metropolitan Cathedral on September 27, 2010, on occasion of celebrations of bicentennial of beginning of the Mexican War of Independence, his skeleton remnants was performed.]] The Chapel of Saint Philip of Jesus ({{lang-es|Capilla de San Felipe de Jesús|links=no}}) was completed during one of the earliest stages of the construction of the cathedral. It is dedicated to [[Philip of Jesus]], a [[friar]] and the only [[martyr]] from New Spain, who was crucified in Japan. The chapel is topped with a Gothic-style dome and has a Baroque altarpiece from the 17th&nbsp;century. A statue of the saint is located in a large niche in the altarpiece. The altar to the left is dedicated to Saint [[Rose of Lima]], considered a protector of Mexico City. To the right is an urn which holds the remains of [[Agustín de Iturbide]], who briefly ruled Mexico from 1822 to 1823.<ref name="historic"/><ref name="forasteros"/> Next to this chapel is a [[baptismal font]], in which it is believed Philip of Jesus was baptised.<ref name="forasteros"/> The heart of Anastasio Bustamante is preserved here. In this chapel is a sculpture alluding to the first Mexican saint: San Felipe de Jesús. This work, as seen by many art critics, is the best elaborated, carved and polychrome sculptured sculpture from Latin America. ===Organs=== The cathedral has had perhaps a dozen organs over the course of its history.<ref name=pepe1>{{cite book |first=Edward |last=Pepe |chapter=From Spain to the New World: the hiring of the Madrid organist Fabián Pérez Ximeno by Mexico City Cathedral |title=Keyboard Perspectives |volume=IV |year=2011 |pages=27–48 |editor-first=Annette |editor-last=Richards |oclc=803998579 }}</ref> The earliest is mentioned in a report written to the king of Spain in 1530. Few details survive of the earliest organs. Builders names begin to appear at the end of the sixteenth century. The earliest disposition that survives is for the Diego de Sebaldos organ built in 1655.<ref name=pepe2>{{cite book| first=Edward| last=Pepe| chapter=Writing a History of Mexico's Early Organs: A Seventeenth-Century Disposition from the Mexico City Cathedral| editor-first=Thomas| editor-last=Donahue| title=Music and Its Questions: Essays in Honor of Peter Williams| location=Richmond| publisher=OHS Press| date=January 2007| pages=49–74| isbn=978-0-913499-24-5}}</ref> The first large organ for Mexico City Cathedral was built in Madrid from 1689 to 1690 by [[Jorge de Sesma]] and installed by [[Tiburcio Sanz]] from 1693 to 1695.<ref name=pepe3>{{cite journal| first=Edward| last=Pepe| title=An Organ by Jorge de Sesma for Mexico City Cathedral| journal=Revista de Musicología| volume=29| pages=127–162| number=1| date=June 2006| jstor=20798165| publisher=Sociedad Española de Musicologia (SEDEM)| doi=10.2307/20798165}}</ref> It now has two, which were made in Mexico by [[José Nassarre]] of Spain, and completed by 1736, incorporating elements of the 17th-century organ. They are the largest 18th-century organs in the Americas; they are situated above the walls of the choir, on the epistle side (east) and the gospel side (west).<ref name="Organs">{{cite journal |last=Flentrop |first=Dirk Andries |author-link=Dirk Andries Flentrop |author2=John Fesperman |year=1986 |title=The Organs of Mexico City Cathedral |journal=Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology |volume=47 |author2-link=John Fesperman }}</ref> Both organs, damaged by fire in 1967, were restored in 1978. Because both organs had fallen into disrepair again, the gospel organ was re-restored from 2008 to 2009 by Gerhard Grenzing; the restoration of the epistle organ, also by Grenzing, was completed in 2014, and both organs are now playable.<ref name=global>{{cite news| title=Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral completes organ restoration| url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/140305/mexico-citys-metropolitan-cathedral-completes-organ-restoration| agency=[[EFE]]| work=[[Global Post]]| date=14 May 2014| access-date=2014-09-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020349/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/140305/mexico-citys-metropolitan-cathedral-completes-organ-restoration|archive-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> ===Choir=== The [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] is where the priest and/or a choral group sings the [[psalms]]. It is located in the central nave between the main door and the high altar, and built in a semicircular fashion, much like Spanish cathedrals. It was built by [[Juan de Rojas]] between 1696 and 1697.<ref name="arsvirtual-choir">{{cite web|url=http://www.arsvirtual.com/visitas/visitas/catedral_mexico/alta/mexico/mexico.htm |title=Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City- The choir |access-date=2008-09-18 |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828094118/http://www.arsvirtual.com/visitas/visitas/catedral_mexico/alta/mexico/mexico.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2008 }}</ref> Its sides contain 59&nbsp;reliefs of various saints done in [[mahogany]], [[walnut]], [[Cedar wood|cedar]] and a native wood called tepehuaje. The railing that surrounds the choir was made in 1722 by Sangley Queaulo in [[Macao]] and placed in the cathedral in 1730.<ref name="Epoca"/> <gallery mode="packed" caption="Choir and organs"> File:Mexico DF Cathedral.jpg|View of the choir grate File:Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City Ovedc 05.jpg|View of the side wall of the choir File:Catedral Metropolitana, México D.F., México, 2013-10-16, DD 95.JPG|Organ File:Órgano de la Catedral Metropolitana.JPG|View of the Spanish organ File:Coro de la Catedral Metropolitana de Ciudad de México.JPG|View of the Mexican organ File:Catedral Metropolitana, México D.F., México, 2013-10-16, DD 99.JPG|View of an organ case from outside the choir area </gallery> ===Crypt=== The Crypt of the Archbishops is located below the floor of the cathedral beneath the Altar of the Kings. The entrance to the crypt from the cathedral is guarded by a large wooden door behind which descends a winding yellow staircase. Just past the inner entrance is a [[Mexica]]-style stone skull. It was incorporated as an offering into the base of a [[cenotaph]] to [[Juan de Zumárraga]], the first archbishop of Mexico. Zumárraga was considered to be a benefactor of the Indians, protecting them against the abuses of their Spanish overlords. There is also a natural-sized sculpture of the archbishop atop the cenotaph. On its walls are dozens of bronze plaques that indicate the locations of the remains of most of Mexico City's former archbishops, including Cardinal [[Ernesto Corripio y Ahumada]]. The floor is covered with small marble slabs covering niches containing the remains of other people.<ref name="fox">{{cite web |url=http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/buenasnoticias/?contenido=19666&pagina=223 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601193843/http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/buenasnoticias/?contenido=19666&pagina=223 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 June 2009 |title=La Cripta de los Arzobispos, una joya escondida en la Catedral |access-date=2008-11-20 |author=Ricardo Pacheco Colín |language=es |publisher=Gobierno de Presidente Fox |date=25 July 2005 }}</ref> The cathedral contains other crypts and niches where other religious figures are buried, including in the chapels. <gallery mode="packed" caption="Crypt of the Archbishops of Mexico"> File:Criptacatedralmexico.jpg|The crypt File:Catedral y Sagrario Metropolitano 10.jpg|Prehispanic stela File:CRIPTAARZO.JPG|A crypt File:Catedral y Sagrario Metropolitano 13.jpg|Zumárraga statue File:Catedral y Sagrario Metropolitano 137.jpg|Archbishops' niches </gallery> ==Restoration== The sinking ground and seismic activity of the area have had an effect on the cathedral's construction and current appearance. Forty-two years were required simply to lay its foundation when it was first built, because even then the Spaniards recognized the danger of constructing such a huge monument in soft soil.<ref name="historic"/> However, for political reasons, much, but not all, of the cathedral was built over the remains of pre-Hispanic structures, leading to uneven foundation from the beginning.<ref name="WalkingTour">{{cite web |url=http://gomexico.about.com/od/sights/ss/df_walking_4.htm |title=A Walking Tour of Mexico City |access-date=2008-09-18 |publisher=Suzanne Barbezat |date=9 December 2008 |archive-date=2009-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310153634/http://gomexico.about.com/od/sights/ss/df_walking_4.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Fire of 1967=== On 17&nbsp;January&nbsp;1967 at 9&nbsp;pm, a fire caused by an electrical [[short circuit]] caused extensive damage to the cathedral. On the Altar of Forgiveness, much of the structure and decoration were damaged including the loss of three paintings; ''The Holy Face'' by [[Alonso López de Herrera]], ''The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian'' by [[Francisco de Zumaya]] and ''The Virgin of Forgiveness'' by [[Simon Pereyns]]. The choir section lost 75&nbsp;of its 99&nbsp;seats as well a painting by Juan Correa along with many stored books. The two cathedral organs were severely damaged with the partial melting of their pipes. Paintings by Rafael Jimeno y Planas, Juan Correa and Juan Rodriguez Juarez were damaged in other parts of the cathedral. After the fire, authorities recorded the damage but did nothing to try to restore what was damaged. Heated discussions ensued among historians, architects and investigations centering on the moving of the Altar of Forgiveness, as well as eliminating the choir area and some of the railings. In 1972, ecclesiastical authorities initiated demolition of the choir area without authorization from the Federal government, but were stopped. The government inventoried what could be saved and named Jaime Ortiz Lajous as director of the project to restore the cathedral to its original condition. Restoration work focused not only on repairing the damage (using archived records and photographs), but also included work on a deteriorating foundation (due to uneven sinking into the ground) and problems with the towers. The Altars of Forgiveness and of the Kings were subject to extensive cleaning and restorative work. To replace the lost portions on the Altar of Forgiveness, several paintings were added; ''Escape from Egypt'' by Pereyns, ''The Divine Countenance'' and ''The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian''. The organs were dismantled with the pipes and inner workings sent to the Netherlands for repair, while the cases were restored by Mexican craftsmen with work lasting until 1977. Reconstruction of the choir area began in 1979 using the same materials as existed before the fire. In addition, any statues in the towers that received more than 50%&nbsp;damage from city pollution were taken out, with replicas created to replace them. Those with less damage were repaired. Some interesting discoveries were made as restoration work occurred during the 1970s and early 1980s. 51&nbsp;paintings were found and rescued from behind the Altar of Forgiveness, including works by Juan and Nicolas Rodriguez Juarez, [[Miguel Cabrera (painter)|Miguel Cabrera]] and [[José de Ibarra]]. Inside one of the organs, a copy of the nomination of [[Hernán Cortés]] as Governor General of New Spain (1529) was found. Lastly, in the wall of the central arch of the cathedral was found the burial place of [[Miguel Barrigan]], the first governor of [[Veracruz]].<ref name="EncMex"/> ===Late 20th-century work=== [[File:ArtifactsCathdralDF.JPG|thumb|right|Bases and other artifacts from the foundation excavation on display in front of the Cathedral]] The cathedral, along with [[Mexico City#Geography|the rest of the city]], has been sinking into the lakebed from the day it was built. However, the fact that the city is a [[megalopolis (city type)|megalopolis]] with over 18&nbsp;million people drawing water from underground sources has caused water tables to drop and the sinking to accelerate during the latter half of the 20th&nbsp;century.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Greste |title=World: Americas Saving Mexico's sinking cathedral |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/250011.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=8 January 1999 |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042029/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/250011.stm|archive-date=2020-11-12}}</ref> Sections of the complex such as the cathedral and the tabernacle were still sinking at different rates,<ref name="Earthquake">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/eqe.808 |last1=Wiley |first1=John |date=May 2008 |last2=Meli |first2=Roberto |last3=Sánchez |first3=Roberto |last4=Orozco |first4=Bernardo |title=Evaluation of the measured seismic response of the Mexico City Cathedral |journal=Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics |volume=37 |issue=10 |pages=1249–1268 |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119054820/abstract |access-date=2008-09-18}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and the bell towers were tilting dangerously despite work done in the 1970s.<ref name="Sacred Destinations"/><ref name="WalkingTour"/> For this reason, the cathedral was included in the [[1998 World Monuments Watch]] by the [[World Monuments Fund]]. Major restoration and foundation work began in the 1990s to stabilize the building.<ref name="WalkingTour"/> Engineers excavated under the cathedral between 1993 and 1998.<ref name="Earthquake"/> They dug shafts under the cathedral and placed shafts of concrete into the soft ground to give the edifice a more solid base to rest on.<ref name="BBC"/> These efforts have not stopped the sinking of the complex, but they have corrected the tilting towers and ensured that the cathedral will sink uniformly.<ref name="WalkingTour"/> ==Cultural value== [[File:Ciudad de México - Catedral 8515.JPG|thumb|Petrified skull from Aztec [[tzompantli]] ruins added by the Spaniards]] [[File:Cruz Metropolitana, Catedral de México, reintegración de cruces atriales, Arq. Ricardo Prado y Núñez..jpg|thumb|One of [[atrial cross]]es. There are Aztec skulls in its base.{{cn|date=January 2022}}]] The cathedral has been a focus of Mexican cultural identity, and is a testament to its colonial history.<ref name="ciudadmexico"/> Researcher Manuel Rivera Cambas reported that the cathedral was built on the site sacred precinct of the Aztecs and with the very stones of their temples so that the Spaniards could lay claim to the land and the people.<ref name="historic"/> [[Hernán Cortés]] supposedly himself laid the first stone of the original church.<ref name="ciudadmexico"/> It once was an important religious center, used exclusively by the prominent families of New Spain. In 1864, during the [[Second Mexican Empire]], Emperor [[Maximilian of Habsburg]] and Empress [[Charlotte of Belgium]] (later known as Maximiliano and Carlota of Mexico) were crowned at the cathedral after the magnificent arrival to the head city of their reign. Located on the Zocalo it has, over time, been the focus of social and cultural activities, most of which have occurred in the 20th&nbsp;and 21st&nbsp;centuries. The cathedral was closed for four years while President [[Plutarco Elías Calles]] attempted to enforce [[Cristero War#Aftermath|Mexico's anti-religious laws]]. [[Pope Pius XI]] closed the church, ordering priests to cease their public religious duties in all Mexican churches. After the Mexican government and the papacy came to terms and major renovations were performed on the cathedral, it reopened in 1930.<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |date=25 August 1930 |title=Mexico City Cathedral |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740151,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=2008-09-18 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=2014-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729003625/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740151,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The cathedral has been the scene of several protests both from the church and to the church, including a protest by women over the Church's exhortation for women not to wear mini-skirts and other provocative clothing to avoid rape,<ref name="Xinhua">{{cite news |title=Protestan mujeres in minifalda frente a catedral Cd. de México |url=http://www.spanish.xinhuanet.com/spanish/2008-08/18/content_697429.htm |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=2008-08-17 |access-date=2008-09-18 |quotation=Women in miniskirts protest in front of Mexico City Cathedral |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907052422/http://www.spanish.xinhuanet.com/spanish/2008-08/18/content_697429.htm |archive-date=2008-09-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a candlelight vigil to protest against kidnappings in Mexico.<ref name="Topix">{{cite news |title=150,000 Mexicans take to the streets to protest a spate of murders and kidnappings |work=[[Evening Standard]] |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/mexicans-take-to-the-streets-to-protest-a-spate-of-murders-and-kidnappings-6845485.html |date=31 August 2008 |access-date=2014-09-17 |archive-date=2020-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722061443/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/mexicans-take-to-the-streets-to-protest-a-spate-of-murders-and-kidnappings-6845485.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The cathedral itself has been used to protest against social issues. Its bells rang to express the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico|Archdiocese]]'s opposition to the [[Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation|Supreme Court]] [[Abortion in Mexico|upholding of Mexico City's legalization of abortion]].<ref name="Campanas">{{cite news |title=Campanas de la Catedral de México repicaron en señal de duelo por ley del aborto |trans-title=Cathedral bells tolled in Mexico in mourning for abortion law |url=http://www.aciprensa.com/noticia.php?n=22497 |publisher=ACI Prensa |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-date=2008-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914145714/http://www.aciprensa.com/noticia.php?n=22497 |url-status=live }}</ref> Probably the most serious recent event occurred on 18&nbsp;November&nbsp;2007, when sympathizers of the [[Party of the Democratic Revolution]] attacked the cathedral.<ref name="CNA-forgive">{{cite news |title=Message of forgiveness at Mexico City Cathedral |url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=26033 |publisher=[[Catholic News Agency]] |date=28 November 2009 |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522105251/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=26033 |archive-date=22 May 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> About 150&nbsp;protesters stormed into Sunday Mass chanting slogans and knocking over [[pew]]s. This caused church officials to close and lock the cathedral for a number of days.<ref name="Grillo">{{cite news |first=Ioan |last=Grillo |title=Mexico City's Cathedral closes after anti-Catholic protesters storm building during Mass |url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=25974 |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=21 November 2007 |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122111637/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=25974 |archive-date=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The cathedral reopened with new security measures, such as bag searches, in place.<ref name="CNA-forgive"/> ==See also== * [[Catholic Church in Mexico]] * [[History of Mexico City]] * [[List of colonial churches in Mexico City]] *[[List of Colonial government and civil buildings in Mexico City]] {{portal bar|Architecture|Catholicism|Mexico}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{official website}} {{in lang|es}} *[https://havecamerawilltravel.com/places/metropolitan-cathedral-mexico-city-mexico/ Photos of Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral], from Have Camera Will Travel *[http://www.revista.unam.mx/vol.2/num2/proyec1/index.html La Rehabilitación de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México], from the [[UNAM]] {{in lang|es}} * [https://www.hisour.com/history-of-mexico-city-metropolitan-cathedral-53087/ History of Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral] at HiSoUR.com {{Mexico City}} {{Historic buildings of Mexico City Centro}} {{Cathedrals in Mexico}} {{Authority control}} {{good article}} [[Category:1534 establishments in New Spain]] [[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Mexico]] [[Category:Aztec sites]] [[Category:Baroque church buildings in Mexico]] [[Category:Burial sites of the House of Iturbide]] [[Category:Colonial Mexico]] [[Category:Gothic architecture in Mexico]] [[Category:Historic center of Mexico City]] [[Category:History of Mexico City]] [[Category:National Monuments of Mexico]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico (city)]] [[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in Mexico]] [[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1813]] [[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Mexico City]] [[Category:Neoclassical church buildings in Mexico]]'