Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo

In the heart of Mexico City stands the Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo. It’s a place where history and art intertwine, a testament to the enduring spirit of Mexico. The Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo wasn’t always a cathedral. It began as the church of the Colegio Máximo de San Pedro y San Pablo, a Jesuit college founded in 1574. Construction started in 1576, funded by Don Alonso de Villaseca and other patrons. The Jesuit architect Diego Lopez de Arbaizo designed the church, completing it in 1603. The rest of the college complex followed in 1645. The college flourished, educating hundreds of young men, both for religious and secular careers. However, the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico in 1767, leaving the college abandoned. The church’s rich decorations were stripped, sent to adorn other places of worship, including the Mexico City Cathedral. The Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo’s story took another turn with Mexican independence in 1821. The church hosted the Constituent Congress, where Mexico’s first Federal Constitution was drafted in 1824. Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico’s first president, took his oath of office within these very walls. The building continued to serve various purposes throughout the 19th century. It was a library, a dance hall, even an army depot and a mental hospital. The 20th century brought a revival. José Vasconcelos, a prominent figure in Mexican education, oversaw the building’s renovation in the 1920s. He commissioned stunning murals from artists like Roberto Montenegro and Xavier Guerrero. Montenegro’s “Tree of Life” mural, considered the first mural of modern Mexico, adorns the presbytery. The building became part of UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico. It housed the National Periodical Archive and, later, the Museum of Light. Today, the Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo houses the Museum of the Constitutions. It stands as a symbol of Mexico’s journey, from colonial times to independence, and the ongoing quest for a just and democratic society.