Photos: Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
From Mexico to Pennsylvania to the Vatican, faithful celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A pilgrim closes his eyes as he touches the glass case surrounding a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe, outside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Hundreds gather for prayer during mass atop Tortugas "A" Mountain, in Las Cruces, N.M., during the annual pilgrimage on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, in celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast day. The day marks Juan Diego's vision of the Virgin Mary in 1531. The vision led to the conversion of millions throughout the continent. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as Patroness of the Americas. (AP Photo/The Las Cruces Sun-News, Robin Zielinski)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Pictured from left to right, Tom Lopez, his grandson Devin and wife Dolores walk down Tortugas "A" Mountain with Romona Musitano on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014. during the annual pilgrimage. ìThis is Devinís first time, and he just told me he wants to come back next year,î said Dolores Lopez. ìThat is exactly why we brought him, to continue the tradition.î
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Danny H. Ruiz prays while Las Cruces Bishop Oscar Cant˙ leads mass on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, on Tortugas "A" Mountain during the annual pilgrimage in celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast day. The day marks Juan Diego's vision of the Virgin Mary in 1531. The vision led to the conversion of millions throughout the continent. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as Patroness of the Americas. (AP Photo/The Las Cruces Sun-News, Robin Zielinski)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Devotees of the Virgin of Guadalupe camp out overnight in the plaza of the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A man stands next to a neighborhood shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe built on a street median in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Pope Francis, center, celebrates a Mass celebrated on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Pope Francis is celebrating an important Latin American feast day with a Mass featuring Argentine folk hymns. The Argentine pope has praised the "Misa Criolla," one of the first Masses composed in the vernacular after the liberating reforms of Vatican II. He has said the Spanish-language hymns, haunting and accompanied by folk percussion, were an important step in the church's development in Latin America. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the region's most important holidays; millions of people make the pilgrimage to a Mexican basilica to honor the dark-skinned virgin who is said to have appeared to an Indian peasant Dec. 12, 1531. The late Argentine composer Ariel RamÌrez presented "Misa Criolla" to Pope Paul VI on the same feast day 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Pilgrims sleep under blankets at a gas station outside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin of Guadalupe's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Pilgrims from Tlaxcala state carry a large image of the Virgin of Guadalupe garlanded with roses as they arrive at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Friends Adrian Iglesias, right, and Hugo Garcio stand silently outside the Basilica of Guadalupe as they make their first pilgrimage on the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A tear runs from the eye of a pilgrim as she looks up at the apron of Juan Diego, a 16th century relic believed to hold the imprint of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. Pilgrims are able to view the apron from moving walkways that pass below. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A pilgrim holds his hand to the glass case surrounding a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe outside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, early Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A pilgrim carrying an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe stands at the entrance of the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from across the country, many carrying images or statues of Mexico's patron saint to be blessed, converge at the Basilica on Dec. 12, the Virgin's feast day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A man stands next to a neighborhood shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe built on a street median in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A decorated shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe stands in front of a home in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A sunflower decorated shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe built between two homes stands in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A balloon decorated shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe stands in front of a body shop in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A decorated shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe with an invitation for a rosary ceremony at a family's home stands in a street in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Two men water the plants next to a decorated shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe built next to a home in Mexico City, Friday Dec. 12, 2014. Every year thousands upon thousands of faithful flock to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay their respects but just as importantly, little shrines built in parking lots, places of work, street medians, playgrounds and any imaginable corner of a world of concrete and asphalt are colorfully decorated with flowers, balloons and confetti on the Virgin's feast day as neighbors gather around the altars to share a small breakfast, sing happy birthday to the Virgin, light fire-crackers and some just come to have a quiet prayer. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Participants dressed in colorful costumes march down North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 during a procession celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The holiday celebrates the Virgin Mary who's said to have appeared before Mexican farmer Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Mark Moran)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A man dressed in traditional Mexican clothing waves a flag during an Our Lady of Guadalupe parade in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Christopher Dolan)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A young man dressed in traditional Mexican clothing waves a flag during an Our Lady of Guadalupe parade in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Christopher Dolan)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Women in costume dance down North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. in a parade celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Christopher Dolan)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
A young girl in costume dances in an Our Lady of Guadalupe parade down North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Christopher Dolan)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe statue is carried during a celebration procession on North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Mark Moran)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe statue is carried during a celebration procession on North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Mark Moran)
Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe
Marchers carry a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a parade on North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Christopher Dolan)
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