 In 1544 , ecclesiastical authorities in <unk> ordered the creation of new and more <unk> cathedral . In 1552 , an agreement was reached whereby the cost of the new cathedral would be shared by the Spanish crown , <unk> and the Indians under the direct authority of the archbishop of New Spain . The cathedral was begun by being built around the existing church in 1573 . When enough of the cathedral was built to house basic functions , the original church was demolished to enable construction to continue . 
