Long, long ago, (well, post-conquest, but still long ago), an indigenous man named Juan Diego went to the priest of Guadalupe because his uncle was dying. On his way, the Virgen Mary appeared to him and told him to tell the priest to build a church. Juan Diego followed her instructions, but the priest did not believe him. Juan Diego went to the priest again, and again the Virgin Mary appeared to him. She told him to fill his cloak with roses and bring them to the priest. When Juan Diego arrived and opened his cloak, the roses fell out and there was an image of the dark-skinned Virgin on his cloak. Because of this miracle, the priest built a church, and because Mary appeared to Juan Diego, many indigenous people converted to catholicism.
Juan Diego's cloak with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe still survives. Her image is an emblem of Mexican culture because she appeared to an indigenous man and reached an entire people. She combines the catholic religion with the culture and faith of the indigenous people.
Now the old church is sinking. See the tilt of the ground? There is a new church (the round one) that displays the cloak.
There's also a Pope Mobile.
ha.
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