Thousands of fans in Mexico City are making a pilgrimage to the capital’s cathedral to pray to a baby Jesus dressed in a Mexican soccer kit, asking for World Cup victory.
A Timeless Tradition
The tradition dates back to 1970, when Mexico first hosted the tournament. This year, a ‘Soccer baby Jesus’ has been placed in the country’s main cathedral, leading to many more visiting fans paying homage and asking for a miracle.
In Mexico, it is common for figures of the baby Jesus to be dressed in different outfits, including as a pilgrim to grant protection to travelers or as a doctor for good health. The dressing of the baby Jesus in a Mexico soccer outfit started at the San Miguel Arcangel church in a poor area of the city 55 years ago.
Amid growing outrage, and fear among some fans that it might impact the team’s performance, Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral decided to display a baby Jesus in the soccer shirt of ‘El Tri.’ Canon Manuel Corral told Reuters that the faithful seeking a bit of extra World Cup edge were not only limited to Mexico fans.
Today, for example, we have Colombians here saying their prayers to ask for victory, Corral said on Tuesday, the day before Colombia played Uzbekistan at the Azteca stadium.
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.
Fans from Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, and other countries posed in front of the figure for photos or to ask for victory for their national teams. Some worshippers were not amused, however.
Eleazar Martinez, a Mexican fan who arrived at the church shortly before noon, said: As a Christian, it’s very strange for me to see the baby Jesus dressed like that. I don’t really agree with it.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
