The magnitude 7.4 quake and a magnitude 5.1 aftershock were centered about 340 miles southeast of Mexico City in a remote and marginalized region of Guerrero state known as the Costa Chica.

The impact was felt around midday in Mexico City, sending residents into the streets. A 1985 earthquake left thousands dead in Mexico City and flattened buildings, but improvements in permits and construction practices have been made.

President Felipe Calderon and Interior Minister Alejandro Poire said via Twitter that no major damage had been registered.

A person answering the phone at the St. James the Apostle Parish in Ometepec, initially reported as the epicenter of the earthquake, said items had been shaken off of shelves. The extent of the damage was uncertain, though.

Pope Benedict lands March 23 in Guanajuato state, 220 miles northwest of Mexico City; the region is not normally prone to earthquake activity.

Organizers of the visit say they are ready to welcome the pope, although Father Villegas said, "It's been very fast. We've not had much time to prepare."