By Tessie Borden
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Aug. 01, 2002

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Vicente Fox raised political eyebrows when he knelt to kiss Pope John Paul II's ring during a welcoming ceremony.

The gesture took place as the pope arrived from Guatemala for a three-day visit in Mexico.

Fox kissed the pope's ring as he received him, then sat at one side of the pontiff during the welcoming ceremony Tuesday night at Benito Juarez International Airport.

The move sparked immediate criticism because it was so public and so unashamedly religious in a country that has taken separation of church and state so seriously that it did not allow the clergy to wear the collar in public for more than a century.

The Mexican constitution places no limit on a person's freedom of religion. However, it prohibits government officials from attending religious ceremonies in their professional capacities, restricting them to attend simply as citizens.

Days before the pope's arrival, Fox said he would go as a citizen to the welcoming ceremony and the canonization of Juan Diego, the first indigenous saint. Then, in a television interview aired moments before the pope arrived, Fox appeared to change his stance, saying the canonization was the first time a head of state was attending a religious event "without hiding or pretending."

On Wednesday, the daily La Jornada published a large picture of the kiss with the headline " . . . and the lay state?" referring to Mexico's separation of church and state at least since the 1850s.

Political analyst Primitivo Rodriguez said, "I think it's a good thing that someone like Fox has the courage to declare his faith. I think it's bad because of what the law says. This is supposed to be a lay state."

Presidential spokeswoman Alicia Buenrostro said Fox broke no protocol rules.

. "President Fox has always expressed himself with total respect for Mexicans' beliefs," Buenrostro said.

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