For the bishops, eventual visit from Leo XIV to Mexico would help consolidate peace

Mons. Ramón Castro Castro, Bishop of Cuernavaca and president of the Mexican Episcopate Conference (CEM), recently spoke about a possible visit of Pope Leo XIV to Mexico, and said that an eventual apostolic journey “would bring a consolidation of peace that we need so much.”

At a press conference on Sunday, May 18, Mons. Castro Castro recalled that “each of the visits that the pontiffs have had in our beloved Mexico have been very positive. They have always brought consequences that sometimes we didn’t even expect.”

Three Pontiffs have visited Mexico: San Juan Pablo II, five times (1979, 1990, 1993, 1999 and 2002); Benedict XVI, in 2012; and Pope Francis, in 2016.

Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, Secretary of the Government of the Government of Mexico, headed the Mexican delegation that attended the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican, on May 18. Once the Eucharistic celebration is completed, Rodríguez Velázquez formally handed him an invitation letter to the Holy Father to visit Mexico.

Mons. Ramón Castro Castro explained that “normally, when a Pope goes to a country, the first thing to do is the acceptance and invitation of the government. We, as an episcopal conference, of course we echo it.”

We also confirm the invitation and we are going to do it officially, “he said, specifying that the bishops” cannot take the first step without the government before. “

For the president of the CEM, Leo XIV, “who knows Mexico quite well, and who knows the reality we live, knows that an eventual visit would bring a consolidation of peace that we need so much.”

“Next year, with the favor of God”

Asked about a possible date for an eventual trip from Leo XIV to Mexico, Mons. Castro Castro said that “this year I think no longer”, pointing out the possibility of trips already designed, as the possible trip to Nicea (Turkey), and recalled that “we are almost mid -year.”

“Then, surely next year, with the favor of God,” he said.

“The Pope that God has sent us at a very conducive moment”

For Mons. Castro Castro, “we have the Pope that God has sent us at a very conducive moment. A truly universal man, a man with European, Italian, Spanish, French roots, born in the United States, who perfectly knows what the United States is.”

In addition, he pointed to the years that today Pope spent in Peru, highlighting that “he knows what he means to get on a donkey to go to a distant parish and what means to breathe the dust and be on horseback and see the problems. This is truly something that seems very, very timely and providential.”

“In addition to being a very balanced man,” he said, ensuring that “this will bring a great benefit to the entire Church.”

The 11th walk for peace

The press conference also addressed the call to the 11th walk for peace in the Diocese of Cuernavaca, which will be held on May 25 from 9:00 am, starting from the Sanctuary of Tlaltenango, towards the Cuernavaca Cathedral.

The Prelate expressed his desire for broad assistance of citizens, highlighting that “participation is always a surprise. We cannot estimate how many, but the call, then, has been the same, but certainly we see greater enthusiasm, a greater mood, and a greater echo, which suggests that there would probably be a greater participation.”

In addition, he stressed that in this edition they will have “a special place the seeking mothers”, as women who have organized independently are known, many times without the help or protection of the authorities, to find their missing children due to violence in the country.

On an eventual participation of politicians in the walk, the Mexican bishop stressed that in all the previous editions “we have been very neutral, always”, so “if they want to participate as citizens, to participate. We have never given them a place or special, or recognition.”

“On the contrary, we have asked them not to use it as an instrumentalization,” he said.

“Combat impunity”

The prelate also highlighted how through these peaceful manifestations, greater awareness has been generated, showing that “we do not keep our arms crossed.”

“When we walk together, as a family, we are giving a testimony. A testimony that we are many who want peace. And we are more who want peace,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that “I am not a specialist,” Mons. Castro Castro said that “one of the things that can help” to achieve peace “is to combat impunity.”

“Why (criminals) do all that? Because they know that nobody is going to touch them. So, one way is to assert the rule of law and combat impunity,” he said.

“That would make criminals reflect and not feel so free to do what they want, as they are doing,” he said.