Although Mexico is an incredibly diverse country, one aspect that

is not so diverse is religion. The large majority of Mexican citizens

identify as Roman Catholic. A survey taken by the census bureau
reported that 88% of Mexican citizens identify themselves as Roman
Catholic. Although Roman Catholicism is the most prominent religion in
Mexico, there are, of course, other religions as well. These religions
include Pentecostal, which makes up about 1.6%, Jehovahs Witness,
which makes up about 1.4%, and other Evangelical churches which
make up about 5%. Catholicism started in Rome during the 1st-5th
centuries C.E. Catholicism spread first through the Roman Empire.
Then, through missionaries and Monks from Ireland, Britain, and
Germany, Catholicism made its way to Spain, Gaul, and England. It
then traveled east to Poland, Russia, and Hungary. During the Spanish
Conquest of Mexico, Catholicism was then spread to Mexico from the
conquistadors.
There are many sacred places in Mexico. Many cathedrals are
considered sacred places in Mexico. The oldest and largest cathedral,
or church, in Latin America is the Metropolitan Cathedral. The
Metropolitan Cathedral is located on top of the former Aztec sacred
precinct. Another sacred place is the Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a major Catholic
shrine on the outskirts of Mexico City. In 1999 it became the most
visited Catholic shrine in the world. Our Lady of Guadalupe is an aspect
of the Virgin Mary who appeared to St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin in
1531 and told him to build a church at the exact site the Basilica of Our
Lady of Guadalupe is located today.
There are some major connections between the government and
Catholicism in Mexico. Since Mexicos independence from Spain,
Anticlericalism was a huge factor in Mexican politics. Anticlericalism
was one of the causes of the frequent change in government and the
governments eagerness to access wealth in the form of the property
of the church. The Constitution in 1917 created laws that were very
similar to the French Revolutions attack on the church. The
Constitution prohibited priests from voting, the church from having
anything to do with public policy, and did not allow priests to wear
their clericals or vestments outside of their church.
Overall, Catholicism has impacted Mexico in a huge way since it
was first introduced. Because Catholicism is so prevalent in Mexico
even today, many aspects of the lives of Mexican citizens have been
shaped through their beliefs in Catholicism. Catholicism has impacted
architecture because there are cathedrals everywhere you look in
Mexico. It has impacted literature because the beliefs in Catholicism
are so widespread that customs have been passed down through many
generations in the form of literature.