Church in Mexico City Armed attack next to a parish

This morning, in Mexico City, an armed man took an instructor hostage within a neighboring community center to a parish. After the confrontation, the primacy archdiocese of Mexico condemned the violent events and launched a “new and urgent called to the whole society to work together with peace and the reduction of violence.”

During one press conferencethe Attorney General of Mexico City, Bertha Mayor Luján, reported that an armed man entered a community center in the municipality of the mayor’s office Gustavo A. Madero, north of Mexico City, where he took a hap of an instructor in crossfit. The aggressor assured to meet the victim and claimed to have been displaced from his activities in that place years.

As the prosecutor explained, for more than two hours it was tried to establish dialogue with the attacker. However, by becoming aggressive and hurting an agent, a tactical element of the police intervened and killed the aggressor. The injured agent was transferred to a hospital, where he reports out of danger.

The Primada Archdiocese of Mexico shared a statement Hours after the incident in which he pointed out that this community center is next to the parish of San Jorge Mártir, and is “one of the spaces where the parish – administered pastorally by the community of the Josefinos of San Leonardo Murialdo – is part of its evangelizing and social mission.”

Likewise, the Archdiocese said that at the time of the events – at 8:00 a.m. (local time) – the Holy Mass was celebrated in the temple. However, he indicated that “both the priests and the faithful were safe at all times.”

He also deeply regretted that “spaces for community life and fraternal encounter are threatened by violence, which not only damages direct victims, but fractures the social fabric, especially in the most vulnerable communities.”

Peace actions

In the statement, the Archdiocese recalled some of the actions carried out in favor of pacification, such as the Listening centersspaces to accompany “victims of violence and collaborate with civil organizations and authorities to open paths of reconciliation, human development and social reintegration.”

He also highlighted the placement of Peace mailboxes In the parishes of Mexico City, “where it is possible to leave anonymous information about missing people or possible clandestine graves,” as support for seeking families.

Another of the mentioned initiatives was the Set of armsin which owners of firearms can change them for cash, described as “a concrete action to reduce risks and foster safer environments.”

Finally, in the statement, those who have been directly or indirectly affected by this fact to “approach the Social Pastoral offices of the Archdiocese were invited to receive spiritual and psychosocial accompaniment.”