View of the old and new basilica. The Basilica is a Roman Catholic church; minor basilica and National Shrine of Mexico in the north of Mexico City. The shrine was built near the location where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. The Old Basilica; the 鈥楾emplo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey;' the construction of the old basilica began in 1531 and was not finished until 1709. The modern basilica was built between 1974-76.