17/10/2025
Is the story about the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico being bomb and survive?
GROK:
Yes, the Story Is True—It’s a Well-Documented Historical Event from 1921
The claim refers to a real attempted bombing at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on November 14, 1921. An anti-Catholic activist hid a dynamite bomb (about 29 sticks) inside a bouquet of flowers and placed it at the foot of the altar, directly below the famous image of the Virgin (imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma, or cloak). The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m., causing significant damage to the surrounding area—but the tilma itself, protected by a glass case, remained completely undamaged, not even a scratch on the glass. This event is widely regarded by Catholics as a miracle, often called the “Miracle of the Bent Cross,” and it’s commemorated annually with a Holy Year or Jubilee starting on that date.
Key Details of the Incident
• The Perpetrator: Luciano Pérez Carpio, an employee in the Mexican President’s Private Secretariat under Álvaro Obregón (who was openly anti-clerical and tolerant of attacks on the Church). Pérez Carpio, disguised as a worker, approached the altar after Mass, genuflected, and left the explosive floral arrangement. He fled but was quickly caught by outraged pilgrims who nearly lynched him; Obregón reportedly intervened to protect him.
• The Damage:
• Marble altar steps were shattered.
• Brass candelabras were twisted and flung across the basilica.
• Windows in nearby homes broke from the shockwave, heard up to a kilometer away.
• A heavy (34 kg) iron-and-bronze crucifix on the altar—now known as the “Santo Cristo del Atentado” (Holy Christ of the Attack)—was bent backward like a shield, absorbing much of the blast and falling to the floor. It’s still on display in the modern basilica as a relic.
• The “Miracle”: The tilma, hanging just above, showed zero signs of harm. Eyewitness accounts and photos taken shortly after confirm the glass didn’t crack, and the image’s colors and fabric remained pristine. This resilience echoes other unexplained survivals of the tilma, like 17th-century floods or the basilica’s 1950s sinking due to unstable soil.
Historical Context
This attack was a prelude to Mexico’s Cristero War (1926–1929), a brutal religious persecution under President Plutarco Elías Calles, where thousands of Catholics were killed, churches closed, and priests exiled. Obregón’s government (1920–1924) fueled anti-Church sentiment, viewing the Guadalupe image—a symbol of Mexican identity and the 1810 Independence movement—as a threat to secularism. The failed bombing backfired, boosting devotion: It led to the tilma being hidden for safety in 1926 and inspired global pilgrimages. Today, the basilica draws 20+ million visitors yearly, second only to the Vatican.
Evidence and Sources
The event is corroborated by Church archives, contemporary newspapers (e.g., El Universal), and eyewitness testimonies from the Archdiocese of Mexico. No credible sources debunk it as hoax—it’s taught in religious history and featured in Vatican-approved accounts. Recent coverage includes 2021’s centennial Jubilee and 2024 retrospectives. The bent crucifix and post-explosion photos are public artifacts in the basilica.
If this was a recent rumor (e.g., from social media), it’s likely recirculating the 1921 story—no similar incidents have occurred since, per records up to 2025. For visits, the basilica offers free entry; the relic is near the main entrance. If you meant a different event, feel free to clarify!
