The Metropolitan Cathedral is the main seat of Argentina’s Catholic church. This is the place where Pope Francis, then archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, served masses before becoming Pope in 2013. As you may already know, Pope Francis is an Argentina native, which is why a museum displaying some of his personal and church memorabilia was opened in his honor in the cathedral.
The church that once stood where the Catedral Metropolitana is situated today was built by the orders of Juan de Garay in 1593. Since then, it saw many renovation efforts, the last one of which started in the 18th century, and was finally finished in mid-19th century. Those who visit this cathedral will be amazed by its facade, which doesn’t even resemble a catholic church, or, in fact, any of the catholic churches that the onlooker had ever seen.
The twelve Neoclassical pillars of the cathedral symbolize the 12 disciples of Christ. The front of the church contains a representation of the meeting between Jacob and his son, Joseph in Egypt, which is an allegory of the unity that the People of Argentina showed after its many civil unrests. The eternal flame located in front of the cathedral is a nod to general José de San MartÍn and the unknown soldier who both fought in the wars for Argentine independence.
The interior if the church is dominated by the archway which is around 40 meters tall, designed in a neoromantic and neo-baroque spirit. The floor of the cathedral is covered in Venetian-style mosaics, which all depict various religious symbols. The cathedral houses the Mausoleum of San MartÍn and the Unknown Soldier. Three female figures, depicting Argentina, Chile and Peru, surround the two sarcophagi, paying homage to the countries that General de San MartÍn liberated, allowing all of them to declare independence.
The cathedral also houses the important altar dedicated to Martin of Tours, the patron saint of Argentina. The main icon on the altar, done on gold-plated wood, depicts the Holy Trinity, and is one of the rare art pieces that were saved, and which date back to colonial times. The icon itself was completed at the end of the 18th century, and was painted in the style of Rococo. Another colonial art piece located in the cathedral is the sculpture of Christ of Buenos Aires, sculpted by Portuguese sculptor Manuel do Coyto.
This sculpture is the oldest one in the cathedral, having been completed in the 17th century. Another point of interest located in this lavish cathedral is the marvelous 19th century Walcker organ, which contain over 3500 pipes. The organ was constructed in Germany, after which it was transported to its home in Buenos Aires.
In 1979, two former Argentine national soccer players, Héctor Scotta and Daniel Bertoni, donated to the cathedral an image of the Cristo de Buen Amor – the Christ of Good Love. The image is also known as the football player’s Christ.
