Mexico City Cathedral

A score of bellringers clambered to the towers of Mexico City's Cathedral an early morning last week. From the high openings they peered perspectively at the diminutive people kneeling before the cathedral's shut gates. For four years the building had been closed, ever since onetime President Plutarco Elias Calles tried to enforce Mexico's anti-religious laws (TIME, Feb. 22, 1926 et seq.) and the Pope in displeasure ordered priests to cease their public religious duties. But last year Mexico and Vatican City made peace (TIME, July 1, 1929). Mexican churches reopened for services, not, however, the Cathedral. Three and a half centuries had weakened the structure. Its use had become dangerous. The chapter took advantage of the cessation of worship to reinforce weakened portions. Last week repairs were sufficient for safety. Archbishop Pascual Diaz, primate of Mexico, and Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Florez, Apostolic Delegate to Mexico, were ready to celebrate a high pontifical mass. They gave a signal. The bellringers boomed their bells. The worshipers flocked in, un- persuaded until that moment that their faith was really re-established in Mexico.

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