Banners are strung up around the Mexican city of Leon ahead of the much-anticipated visit from Pope Benedict XVI.<br/> <br />The pontiff will be in Mexico from March 23-26, his first visit to the largely conservative Catholic country.<br/> <br />Historical buildings have been restored, and this woman says the months of public works projects have transformed the city.<br/> <br />Some three million pilgrims from around the world are expected to descend on Leon, and church officials have been busy preparing.<br/> <br />As part of his three-day visit, the Pope is scheduled to lead a huge mass at a Catholic sanctuary built atop a hill.<br/> <br />The Mexican government has said Pope Benedict will be given the same level of security as visiting heads of state, and have already placed guards at the site of the open-air mass.<br/> <br />Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
