An estimated six million people flocked to Mexico City and the biggest Roman Catholic shrine in the Americas for the annual pilgrimage to pay respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe on 12 December.

Pilgrims travelled from across Mexico and Latin America to reach the basilica built in honour of the dark-skinned Virgin, Mexico's patron saint.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is recognised and venerated throughout much of Latin America.

The Virgin is said to have appeared to an indigenous man, Juan Diego, in December 1531. In 2002, Pope John Paul ll canonised Juan Diego, Mexico's first indigenous saint.

The apparition of the Virgin is said to have happened on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, where a huge new basilica now stands alongside the Old Basilica.

The new building, which dates from the mid-1970s, can hold some 80,000 people.

Celebrations to honour the Virgin of Guadalupe took place elsewhere in Latin America, including here in Guatemala City.

Amid the religious iconography, Christmas themes were also evident as families paid their respects and had their day recorded in Guatemala City.