Relics of saints and splinters of the Cross of Christ will tour Mexico City

A mobile reliquary containing relics of the Holy Cross, Saint Rafael Guízar y Valencia, Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint John Paul II will tour Mexico City with the aim of bringing the faithful closer to venerating these treasures of the Catholic Church, in the framework of the Jubilee Year.

On January 19, in a Mass celebrated in the Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe in the country’s capital, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Primate Archbishop of Mexico, began the tour of these relics that will visit some of the 300 parishes of the archdiocese. Initially, they will be displayed in the atrium of the Marian temple.

During the celebration, the cardinal expressed that this initiative is carried out “to animate the Jubilee Year with the memory of those who have walked in this life and have found that clarity of light in Jesus Christ.”

The Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee of Hope throughout 2025, during which the faithful will be able to obtain plenary indulgences in designated churches. In the Archdiocese of Mexico, these are the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Basilica of Guadalupe and the parish of La Esperanza de María en la Resurreccion del Señor, located south of the city.

Regarding the relics, the cardinal expressed his wish that in the territory “they help to grow in faith, hope and love with the example and intercession of the saints.”

The tour itinerary can be found at tesorosdelaiglesia.com.

What do the relics consist of?

Holy Cross

The relic of the Holy Cross includes two splinters of the tree where Jesus Christ was crucified in the year 33. According to tradition, it was found in the year 327 by Saint Helena.

According to what is reported in the websiteSaint Helena identified Calvary thanks to testimonies from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who kept the memory of the place alive despite attempts to hide it by building a pagan temple. During her search, Elena found several crosses, as Calvary was a common site of executions.

To determine which one corresponded to Christ, fragments of the crosses were placed near a young man with his hand motionless, who regained movement when he touched them.

“The relic of the Holy Cross is a symbol of our faith and redemption, and will accompany us on a unique spiritual journey throughout CDMX,” states the official website.

San Rafael Guízar and Valencia

The relics of San Rafael Guízar y Valencia include a fragment of one of his bones. Born in Michoacán in 1878, he was the first Hispanic American bishop canonized by the Catholic Church.

He website details who was named Bishop of Veracruz in 1919, stood out for his bravery during religious persecution in Mexico, facing constant threats.

Throughout his ministry, Saint Raphael spent nine of his eighteen years as a bishop in exile or in hiding, even offering his life to defend freedom of worship. He died in 1938 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

The reliquary of Saint Teresa of Calcutta includes blood of the nun of Albanian origin who founded the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation dedicated to the care of the poorest and sick.

His tireless work was recognized internationally with numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, which he accepted on behalf of the poor. She died on September 5, 1997 and was canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis, being remembered as a symbol of love and compassion.

Saint John Paul II

The relic of the blood of Saint John Paul II will tour the Archdiocese of Mexico.

Considered one of the most influential in the recent history of the Catholic Church, during his pontificate, Saint John Paul II promoted human rights and peace.

Saint John Paul II visited Mexico five times: in 1979, shortly after being elected Pope; in 1990 and 1993, after the Cold War; in 1999; and in 2002, for the canonization of San Juan Diego. He was declared a saint by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014.