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The Mexican bishops' conference has denounced the killing of seven young individuals, including minors, at a parish festival. The incident occurred on May 19 in San Bartolo de Berrios, Guanajuato state. Gunmen reportedly associated with a cartel arrived in trucks and opened fire on those present, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of León signed by Archbishop Jaime Calderón Calderón.
Archbishop Calderón expressed outrage and urged authorities to find those responsible and ensure justice is served. "We are outraged, shocked and we condemn this act," he stated. He emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth to bring comfort to the victims' families.
The Guanajuato state prosecutor's office confirmed the number of deaths but did not provide further details. This attack follows another incident in March where eight young people were killed outside a parish in Salamanca, Irapuato Diocese.
Guanajuato has experienced increasing violence due to drug cartels involved in illicit activities such as gasoline theft from Pemex pipelines. Despite being an industrial hub and historically Catholic region visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, it has faced significant security challenges over the past decade.
In Mexico City, two senior officials were assassinated on May 20. Ximena Guzmán, personal secretary to Mayor Clara Brugada, and José Muñoz, a government adviser, were gunned down after stopping their vehicle near a metro station. No motive has been provided for these murders, and suspects remain at large.
Mayor Brugada noted earlier that homicides had decreased by 49% since 2019 in Mexico City. However, these recent incidents highlight ongoing security issues across different regions.
The National Dialogue for Peace initiative expressed its dismay over these events. The Mexican bishops’ conference also released a statement emphasizing that such violence signals a weakening social fabric and lack of peace across many areas of Mexico.
David Agren reports for OSV News from Mendoza, Argentina.
