In 1519 Hernan Cortez brought the conquistadors into Mexico and subjugated the native Americans. With him came missionaries bringing Christianity. The the mission was not initially very successful — it was an alien religion, the religion of the conqueror. Twelve years later the Blessed Mother Mary appeared to one of those native peoples who had become a Christian, Cuauhtlatoatzin who had taken the name Juan Diego at his baptism. The end result of the apparitions was the image of Mary left on his tilma, his cloak. This Mary looked not like Spaniards but like the people of Mexico and was surrounded by native symbols. Christianity was not, after all, an alien religion but one that reflected the culture of the people. Soon all of Mexico was Christian.
