Villahermosa Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Lord
Catedral del Señor de Villahermosa
Location	Villahermosa
Country	Mexico
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church

The Cathedral of the Lord is a very important Catholic church in Villahermosa, Mexico. It is also known as the Villahermosa Cathedral or Tabasco Cathedral. This church is the main cathedral for the Diocese of Tabasco.

Building History

Early Beginnings: The First Church

The first church on this spot was built in 1776. It was called the Church of the Lord of Esquipulas. This name came from a special statue of a black Christ. The statue was brought from Esquipulas, Guatemala. Bishop Don Diego de Peredo gave this statue to the church on March 18, 1774.

Challenges and Destruction

On April 16, 1884, a new cathedral was planned. Bishop Agustín de Jesus Torres Hernández laid the first stone. However, the building was never finished. So, the Church of Esquipulas remained the main cathedral.

In 1928, the church faced a difficult time. The state governor, Tomás Garrido Canabal, started a campaign against religion. He ordered churches to close and religious statues to be destroyed. In 1930, the cathedral was attacked. It was robbed, burned, and its religious items were destroyed. It was even turned into a "Rationalist School." Finally, in 1934, the building was torn down.

Rebuilding and Dedication

After this difficult period, the Bishop of Tabasco, José de Jesús del Valle y Navarro, began rebuilding the cathedral. This started in 1945. The new church was named the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco. This name honored a statue that the bishop himself donated. The construction of the new cathedral was finished in 1970.

A very special event happened on May 11, 1990. Pope John Paul II visited Villahermosa. During his visit, he officially blessed and dedicated the cathedral in a special Mass.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral del Señor de Tabasco para niños

• Roman Catholicism in Mexico
• Jesus is Lord

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