Vice President Joe Biden moved by visit to Guadalupe basilica

Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 7, 2012 / 11:05 am

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City where he prayed before the miraculous image and recalled how devoted his mother was to the Patroness of America.

Vice President Biden arrived the evening of March 6, accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Wayne. Placing flowers before the image, he knelt down to pray for a few minutes and afterward took out a white handkerchief to wipe tears from his eyes.

In comments to reporters, an emotional Biden said, "My mother was very devoted to the Blessed Mother. She taught her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother and I regret that she's not here with us."

Biden is on a tour of Mexico and Honduras to promote regional cooperation in an effort to bolster security and fight drug trafficking.

Earlier he had met with the three leading candidates of the presidential race in Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Enrique Pena Nieto and Josefina Vazquez Mota. He also held a private meeting with current President Felipe Calderon.

"I'd rather not talk about the candidates," he said in response to questions by reporters. "I had a wonderful day with the candidates, but I had a better day here. I would have come just for this. It's a great treasure."  

The Vice President was escorted on his visit to the basilica by the rector, Msgr. Eugenio Glennier and by Msgrs. Eduardo Chavez and Pedro Tapia.