MEXICO CITY, AUGUST 25 (ZENIT.org)

    The Center of Guadalupe Studies has just presented the book "The Virgin's Messenger," written by a team of archaeologists and anthropologists, which proves the historical existence of Blessed Juan Diego, the Indian visionary of the Virgin of Guadalupe's apparitions.

    Asunción Garcia Samper, head of the team made up of members of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, and the Center of Guadalupe Studies, reconstructed the Blessed's family tree, going as far back as 100 years after Christ, and including 900 relatives. Juan Diego came from a noble Indian family; he was a grandson of Nezahualcoyotl, and highly respected in Mexico-Tenochtitlan. In fact, according to the research, the composition of the cape, or "tilma," on which the Virgin imprinted her image, corresponds to that of the noble class.

    Bishop Enrique Salazar, director of the Center of Guadalupe Studies, announced that all the documentation gathered will be given to John Paul II around October 12.

    Juan Diego's cause of canonization, following his beatification by this Pope, is already quite advanced. These new discoveries reinforce his postulation. ZE00082504

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