It was completed in 1804 when the priest of Dolores, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, blessed it.

It was consecrated as a cathedral in 1931, during the time of Bishop Francisco Banegas G.

As one of the last colonial constructions, the temple showcases the transition from Baroque to Neoclassical architecture. Its façade is made of red tezontle stone and is one of the most elaborate in the city, featuring two levels with various sculptures and reliefs.

The cathedral has a single nave with a dome and a tower on the right side.

The interior is decorated in a Neoclassical style, and the main altar stands out with sculptures of the apostles John, Paul, and James, as well as other works by the renowned sculptors Arce, Perrusquia, and Montenegro, known as "the three Marians" because that was their shared name.

Beneath the building, there is a rotunda of Illustrious Bishops that can be visited during the Day of the Dead season.