Giant Baby Jesus statue visits Mexico City’s Tepito neighborhood with message of peace

MEXICO CITY (AP) — His face and body resemble those of a newborn. Yet the Baby Jesus statue towers 16 feet (5 meters) tall and travels across central Mexico spreading a message of peace.

The giant figure arrived this week in Mexico City’s Tepito neighborhood, known for its bustling street markets and strong local identity, but also for longstanding crime problems. Prayers, offerings and a Mass followed.

“The Baby Jesus means everything to me and my family because we are very Catholic,” said Guillermo Ramírez, a local resident who coordinated logistics for the statue’s visit. “By bringing it here, I want to show that there are good people in Tepito.”

The 49-year-old musician first saw the giant Baby Jesus in 2024 in a nearby neighborhood. Seeing the devotion it drew from worshippers, he thought his own community could benefit too. So he reached out to the family who owns the statue, which made its first visit to Tepito later that year.

“Since it represents peace, we hope for peace in our neighborhood, in our family,” said Ramírez’s wife, Alma Cravioto.

Mexican artist Abraham Gómez created the Baby Jesus figure with his brother in 2013.

“This began as a project called ‘Walk for Peace and Good,’ intended to promote and spread values in families, towns and neighborhoods through sacred art,” Gómez said.

The statue has traveled to communities in the Mexican states of Puebla, Tlaxcala and Jalisco, including places where violence stemming from drug trafficking affects local communities.

“Insecurity has complicated our visits lately,” Gómez said. “But that’s why we think these activities are more necessary than ever.”

Made with a steel frame and layers of polyurethane foam and resin reinforced with fiberglass, the statue weighs about half a ton. Gómez said he found inspiration in the smaller Baby Jesus figures cherished among Mexican Catholics, who traditionally dress them ahead of Candlemas on Feb. 2.

He and his brother transport the image in a massive basket placed on top of a flatbed truck. For each of the Baby Jesus’ journeys, they lead a procession that heads to a local church or meeting point, where devotees can make offerings and a priest celebrates Mass.

After its arrival in Tepito on Monday night, dozens of residents gathered around the towering statue as music and prayers filled the street. Neighbors also shared “atole,” a traditional warm corn drink.

“For us, the important thing is not just bringing the statue so visitors can take photos,” Gómez said. “It’s that they leave with a message that stays in their hearts.”

The giant Baby Jesus left his sleeping position on Tuesday and was seated upright. Following the Mexican custom of dressing him up, locals clothed the statue with traditional textiles inspired by Huichol art, a colorful Indigenous tradition from western Mexico.

“We want to reclaim the traditions of our ancestral communities,” Gómez said. “To show that Mexico is a blend of cultures, shaped by both Spanish heritage and Indigenous roots.”

María Concepción Franco, who lives in Tepito, said she had previously seen the figure and was excited about having him visit her neighborhood.

“This is a blessing for me,” she said. “He has granted me miracles and I have asked much of him.”

Friends and loved ones have given her images of the Baby Jesus throughout the years. She keeps some at home and carries one in her purse.

“He helps me stay strong despite all difficulties,” Franco said. “I don’t have any children, but I am really devoted to him.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A parishioner offers candy to a giant Baby Jesus in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Parishioners pray to a giant Baby Jesus in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Parishioners take part in an offering to a giant Baby Jesus in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A parishioner crosses herself in front of a giant Baby Jesus in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Parishioners take part in an offering to a giant Baby Jesus in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene homered and Kevin McGonigle drove in two runs as the Detroit Tigers beat Gerrit Cole for the first time in 10 years, winning 5-3 against the New York Yankees on Monday night.

Framber Valdez (4-5) outpitched Cole, giving up one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. The left-hander struck out eight as the Tigers won their fourth straight game.

Cole (2-2) entered 10-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 14 career starts against Detroit, with his only loss coming as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 14, 2016. But the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner wasn't very sharp this time, allowing five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five.

Minus injured slugger Aaron Judge, the Yankees have lost three in a row and four of five. They still have the best record in the American League at 46-31.

New York got a run in the second when José Caballero walked, stole second and scored on Ali Sánchez's double.

Detroit took the lead with three runs in the third.

Zack McKinstry led off with a triple and scored on McGonigle's groundout. Cole struck out Dillon Dingler for the second out, but the next four hitters reached base, including RBI singles by Spencer Torkelson and Colt Keith.

McGonigle's RBI double gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead in the fourth, and Greene's 422-foot homer made it 5-1 in the fifth.

Sánchez exited in the seventh after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch. Amed Rosario homered two pitches later to make it 5-3.

A pair of infield singles brought Jasson Domínguez to the plate with two on and two outs in the eighth, but Will Vest came out of the bullpen to strike him out. Vest also pitched the ninth for his second save.

The game was delayed for seven minutes in the fourth when a camera installed in front of second base popped up through the grass. Despite the best efforts of Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to rebury the camera, the grounds crew had to come out to fix the field.

The teams continue their three-game series Tuesday night, with Detroit RHP Casey Mize (2-4, 2.58 ERA) scheduled to face LHP Carlos Rodón (3-2, 3.50).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole walks in the dugout against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole walks to the dugout against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Hao-Yu Lee slides safely into home plate against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez throws against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene reacts to his home run agains the New York Yankees during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)