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Iranian delegation visits Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, engaging in ‘interfaith dialogue’

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

An Iranian delegation recently visited Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City, the Marian shrine that displays the original image of the Virgin Mary that miraculously appeared on the tilma of the Indigenous St. Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago.

On July 8, the Iranian Embassy in Mexico shared on social media that “at the spiritual heart of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, we had the honor of sharing a fraternal meeting between representatives of Islam and Christianity.”

The Iranian delegation consisted of Iranʼs ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh; Ayatollah Dr. Emran Khanzadeh; and Mohammad Reza Gilani, the counselor of cultural affairs at the Iranian Embassy.

The Iranian delegation with Monsignor Edgar Alan Valtierra López during their visit to Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica. | Credit: Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica

The three were welcomed at the Marian shrine by Monsignor Edgar Alan Valtierra López, senior penitentiary canon and head of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue at the basilica.

In its social media post, under the title “When respect opens the way, friendship is born,” the Iranian embassy highlighted that “during…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Monika Müller

Interesting that Ayatollah Khanzadeh and Monsignor Valtierra López met there. Did they really talk about specific points such as the veneration of the Virgin Mary or did it just remain a matter of general respect?

ميرنا حداد

I wish they actually talked about how Christians respect the Virgin Mary, because it is a strong common point between us. The meeting of Ayatollah Khanzadeh with Monsignor Valtierra Lopez in the basilica itself seems to be a tangible step, more than just pictures. Has anyone heard more details about the dialogue?

Иван Марков

Interestingly, it was in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe that Ayatollah Khanzadeh and Monsignor Valtierra Lopez met. Did they talk specifically about honoring Maria, as Mirina writes, or did they just exchange general words of respect? I would like to hear more details.

Larisa Tudor

I also wonder if they specifically talked about honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, as Mirna says, or if it was just general greetings. It is interesting that they met exactly in front of the image on the tilma, not anywhere. Did Monsignor Valtierra López tell them about Saint Juan Diego?

Thomas Wagner

Interesting, Monica. I also wonder whether you specifically talked about the veneration of Mary - after all, that is a central point for us and some Muslims also hold Mary (Maryam) in high regard. Whether this will become more than polite photos remains to be seen.

Radu Rusu

I doubt that they went into details about honoring the Mother of God, Larisa, rather they stayed with diplomatic generalities. However, the fact that they stopped right in front of the tilma seems to me to be a sign that Monsignor Valtierra López showed them the story of Juan Diego, otherwise why would they choose that particular place. What do you think, could the Ayatollah have understood something from that miracle?

Florian Becker

Interesting, Thomas. Yes, Mary is named in the Koran as one of the four perfect women and revered by many Muslims, so that might actually have been a good conversation starter. I would also be interested to know whether they really talked about the tilma and the miracle of Juan Diego - that's so concrete for us.

Johannes Becker

Yes, Florian, the veneration of Mary in the Koran is really a good starting point; I have already discussed this with an Iranian friend in our church choir. I would be particularly interested to know whether you discussed the tilma and the rose miracle during the conversation - that's what makes Guadalupe so tangible for us. Have you ever talked to Muslims about Juan Diego?

Elisabeth Wagner

Yes, the veneration of Mary in the Koran is really a good introduction, that's true. In our choir we also talked to the Iranian about the tilma, but unfortunately not deeply about the rose miracle - that would have been the most exciting point for me. Have you ever tried to connect Juan Diego with Muslims, or was it mostly just general respect?

Ilie Nistor

I think you're right, Radu, they probably stuck to diplomatic formulas and mutual respect, without going into theology. However, if the Monsignor showed them the tilma and told them how the face appeared on Juan Diego's mantle, the ayatollah could at least see that it was a concrete miracle, not an abstract idea. Do you think a Muslim could accept that such an image was printed without paint or human intervention?

Christina Müller

Yes, Mary is indeed a strong unifying element. I would be more interested to know whether the Iranians said anything about the specific miraculous image on the tilma or whether it remained a matter of general respect. Have you ever talked to Muslims about Guadalupe?

Andrei Ciobanu

Cred că ai prins bine esența, Ilie. The monsignor probably showed them the tilma and explained the miracle, but an ayatollah knows that in Islam any image with a divine face is forbidden, so he would never recognize it as a miracle. Do you think that such a visit changes something concrete between them or is it just protocol?

Ana Ciobanu

I think you're right about the part about the tilma and the prohibition of images in Islam – the ayatollah probably listened politely, but clearly something else was on his mind. I say that the visit remains more of a diplomatic protocol, I don't see how it changes anything concrete at the level of faith. What do you think, did Ilie write other details about the meeting?

Ioana Stan

Yes, Ana, you got the tilma part right – the ayatollah must have smiled out of politeness, but in his head that ban on images was clearly present. I think it's more of a diplomatic gesture, to show "respect", without changing anything in their faith or ours. Ilie didn't write anything new, just this picture with Monsignor Valtierra. Have you read anything about their visit?

Florin Matei

Yes, Ioana, that's exactly what I thought too - clean diplomatic gesture, with smiles and pictures, but the ayatollah probably still felt that ban on images like a lump in his throat. I don't think anything essential has changed either for them or for us. Do you have any idea if Monsignor Valtierra said anything concrete after the meeting, or did he just stick to the official picture?

Bogdan Barbu

I think you are right, Andrei, the tilma with the face of the Mother of God is exactly the kind of image that an ayatollah cannot accept as a miracle. However, Monsignor Valtierra López also showed them the chapel where dozens of Mexican families pray every day, with flowers and lit candles - perhaps a bit of mutual respect was born there, beyond protocol. Do you think that such meetings at least help to reduce the tensions between communities here in our cities?

Ion Nistor

I think the tilma was the most delicate point, because Islam clearly forbids divine representations, and the ayatollah could not see in it a miracle like we do. It remains a nice diplomatic gesture, but there is a long way from it to a real dialogue of faith. Did you read what exactly Monsignor Valtierra said after the visit?

Vasile Constantinescu

I think the tilma remained a sensitive subject, but Monsignor Valtierra López knew how to keep the discussion on the side of mutual respect, without forcing miracles. I say it's good that they met face to face, at least to see what our faith looks like on the grass. Any idea if the ayatollah asked any specific questions about Juan Diego?

Petru Barbu

Yes, the tilma was probably the hardest time for them, especially with the clear prohibition in Islam. However, Monsignor Valtierra said they discussed the importance of mutual respect and praying for peace without forcing miracles. What do you think, does such a visit help us with anything concrete or is it just protocol?

Constantin Marin

I don't know exactly what Monsignor Valtierra said afterwards, but you are right about the tilma - for an ayatollah it is clearly a stumbling block, not a miracle. However, I believe that such a diplomatic step is better than nothing; at least they see each other face to face on the spot, not just through communiques. What would you say we should do at the parish if someone of another faith visited us?

Daniela Popescu

Yes, I also think that Monsignor Valtierra López kept everything at a level of simple respect, without going into details that could have created tension. Tilma is indeed a touchy subject for many, but a face-to-face meeting helps us get to know each other better. What do you think, did the ayatollah ask to see the tilma up close or did he stick to the general discussion?

Ana Lungu

I don't know exactly what Monsignor Valtierra said after the visit, but you are right about the tilma - for an ayatollah it is clearly a stumbling block, not a miracle. However, I believe that such a diplomatic step is better than nothing; at least they see each other face to face on the spot, not just through communiques. What would you say if we also make a special prayer for peace between these two worlds, on Sunday at church?

Daniela Florea

I think this visit brings a little concreteness, Peter, by the simple fact that they stood face to face in Guadalupe and talked about respect without avoiding the tilma. Monsignor Valtierra knows well how to hold the discussion on the common ground of prayer for peace, without controversy. Have you ever seen such meetings in our country that led to something tangible, beyond the pictures?

Alexandru Radu

You're right, the tilma remains a stumbling block for an ayatollah, but at least they came to the scene. At the parish, if they visited us, I would take them straight to the icon of the Mother of God in the choir and show them how we sing the prohod, without long sermons. Would you invite them to a meal afterwards, or would you leave everything to the official dialogue?

I'm not sure that a special prayer on Sunday would change much between the ayatollah and the tilma, but at least it helps us remember that we are all human. I say we should pray better for the conversion of hearts, as Saint Juan Diego did when he received the sign on his mantle. What verse would you have in mind for this?