Senator McCain Visits Guadalupe Shrine

WASHINGTON, DC (Inside Catholic) - Here is the basic coverage of the press pool reporting from McCain's visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe today in Mexico City.

(Bret Hovell, with reporting from Adam-Aigner Treworgy):

John McCain visited the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe north of Mexico City. It was one of the holiest sites in the Roman Catholicism that Mexicans practice.

After a 16 minute motorcade ride with roads closed (and angry drivers honking in an unappreciative tone as we went by), McCain arrived at the Basilica and was greeted by Monsignor Monroy. They shook hands and shared introductions.

They walked into the church together and a few minutes later, Monroy and McCain walked up to the altar. McCain laid a wreath of white roses - traditional in the legend of the Virgin of Guadalupe - near the base of the painting.

He then received a description of the painting for several minutes.

Finally, he was blessed by Monsignor Monroy. For several minutes, according to reporters who were closer to the action (your pool was a football field away and had an obstructed view), the Monsignor had one hand on McCain's forehead and another on his shoulder as he offered the blessing. Cindy McCain stood next to the Senator with her head bowed and her eyes closed.

After that, McCain moved to the "papal balcony" so named because John Paul II visited there (at least once, it looks like, and it seems to have occurred in 1999).

He looked out over the piazza which was very Italian in nature. The old basilica was to his left and in front was a huge square. Several people filled it, but most of them appeared to be professional photographers. He gave a wave or two and continued hearing from the Monsignor about the balcony and the church itself.

Back behind closed doors for candidate while the campaign decided that McCain would also do a little tour of the old basilica. Pool reassembled in front of it of the old basilica. McCain came in and stood just inside the doorway, continuing to hear from the Monsignor. (the pool could not hear any of this conversation) The inside of the old basilica was difficult to see as scaffolding filled almost all of it.

While McCain was still in the old Basilica a few reporters caught up with former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, in Mexico City on business. He joined McCain for all parts of his tour.

Witness the Words of Jesus Come to Life

"I think he's going to win," Bush said about McCain. "He just needs to be himself and not let senator Obama redefine himself."

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