Mexico City, Mexico. Thousands of fans are visiting Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral to pray to a baby Jesus dressed in a Mexico soccer kit, asking for World Cup victory. The tradition dates back to 1970, when Mexico first hosted the tournament, but this year the figure has been placed in the country’s main cathedral, drawing more visitors.
Tradition moved to main cathedral
In Mexico, figures of the baby Jesus are commonly dressed in different outfits, including as a pilgrim to grant protection to travellers or as a doctor for good health.
The practice of dressing the baby Jesus in a Mexico soccer outfit began 55 years ago at the San Miguel Arcangel church in a poor area of the city. This year, a new parish priest banned the practice, saying it was disrespectful.
Response from worshippers
Amid growing outrage, and concern among some fans that the ban might affect the team’s performance, Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral decided to display a baby Jesus wearing the soccer shirt of “El Tri.”
“It’s the first time it’s been here in the cathedral… the people themselves asked for it,” Canon Manuel Corral told Reuters.
Visitors from other countries
Corral said those praying for an advantage in the World Cup were not limited to Mexico supporters.
“Today, for example, we have Colombians here saying their prayers to ask for victory,” he said on Tuesday, the day before Colombia were due to play Uzbekistan at the Azteca stadium.
Display to continue through tournament
The figure will remain on display in the atrium and in various parts of the cathedral until the end of the tournament, regardless of Mexico’s performance, and will wear one of the national team’s kits.
On Tuesday, the baby Jesus wore a white jersey and green shorts similar to the kit Mexico will wear in its match on Thursday in Guadalajara against South Korea.