The bishops of Mexico expressed their “deep pain and dismay” by the massacre attributed to organized crime in which seven young people were killed, including minors, in the community of San Bartolo de Berrios, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, during the early hours of May 19. The crime was committed at the end of a celebration organized by the local parish.
In a communicationthe Conference of the Mexican Episcopate (CEM) said that the prelates join “the pain of the families that today cry the loss of their loved ones and the archdiocese of León in whose lands this tragedy happened.”
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“We all express our closeness, prayer and solidarity. That the Lord of life grants you comfort, hope and strength in the midst of suffering,” said the CEM.
The massacre occurred in the main square of the community of San Bartolo de Berrios, in the municipality of San Felipe, about two hours northeast of the city of León, the most populous in the state of Guanajuato and headquarters of the Archdiocese of León.
The municipal government of San Felipe reported in a communication That around 2:36 am (local time), municipal police officers arrived at the main square of the community of San Bartolo de Berrios, after receiving reports “for firearm detonations.”
“Upon arriving at the scene, a truck was located with damages and lifeless victims,” he said, specifying that these are seven men killed “with a firearm.”
“Given these facts, immediate coordination has been established with state and federal authorities in order to promote investigations and clarify the facts. The State Attorney General’s Office already performs the corresponding proceedings so that this crime is not unpunished,” says the municipal government, which also asks the population to report “any suspicious activity anonymously.”
Massacres “that are repeated with painful frequency”
The Mexican bishops say in their statement that “we cannot remain indifferent to the spiral of violence that laces so many communities in our country.”
“This massacre, one more among many that are repeated with painful frequency, is an alarming sign of the weakening of the social fabric, impunity, and the absence of peace in vast regions of our nation,” they denounce.
The bishops also made “an urgent call” so that the authorities of all levels – world, state and federal – “assume with responsibility the task of guaranteeing security and justice.”
“We cannot get used to living with violent death, or allow impunity to become a norm.”
Civil society was asked not to fall “in indifference or hopelessness. It is time to build peace from everyday life, from our families, communities and participation spaces.”
“Violence is not eradicated only with the use of force, but with a deep cultural transformation that recovers the sacred value of human life.”
They also went to ecclesial communities, encouraging them to be “Witnesses of Hope, promoters of reconciliation, and artisans of peace”, in such a way that our parishes and groups are places where it is announced strongly that ‘evil does not have the last word’ ”.
“As a Church, we reiterate our commitment to continue accompanying the victims, to denounce the structural sin of violence, and to work for a culture of peace, inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which ‘came to bring us life, and life in abundance.”
“People from a cartel arrived armed and opened fire”
The CEM statement followed a message Del Archbishop of León, Mons. Jaime Calderón Calderón, who assumed the pastoral government of the Archdiocese a little less than a year ago, on August 19, 2024.
In his message, the archbishop of León said that “according to the first reports, people from a cartel arrived armed and opened bloodily against the people who were in the place, resulting in 7 young people, including some minors.”
“We are outraged, dismayed and condemn this fact,” said the prelate.
Mons. Calderón Calderón said the crime occurred “at the end of a celebration on the occasion of May 10, organized by the parish.”
After demanding that the authorities capture those responsible and justice be done, the archbishop expressed their closeness to the relatives of the victims: “On a server you will find comfort and prayer for your relatives and for you, who suffer from these unfortunate facts.”
David Ramos
Graduate in Communication Sciences by the Private University of the North in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working in ACI Press, I am based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered the trips of Pope Francis to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.