Artists Craft Trees of Life in Metepec Mexico

Hilario Hernández is a craftsman from Mexico. He was very lucky to meet a pope once. He made a special gift for Pope Benedict XVI, a ceramic piece.

The gift was a Tree of Life, a Mexican tradition. These trees are important in Hernández's town. Many craftsmen in Metepec make these special Trees of Life.

The trees often show Adam and Eve from the Bible. They also show other figures from Mexican culture. The trees show things like skeletons and hairless dogs from the past.

Hernández's family has made clay art for a long time. His grandfather still makes pots at 103 years old. All of Hilario's siblings became artisans and work together.

Hilario made another Tree of Life for Pope Francis later. The pope told him about his own tree. Hilario feels that making Trees of Life keeps their culture alive.