From the Basilica of Guadalupe they ask for peace in Sinaloa, Mexico

From the Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe, Mons. Mario Espinosa Contreras, Bishop of Mazatlan, diocese located south of the state of Sinaloa, raised its prayers so that the mother of Mexicans intercede for peace in the region.

During his annual pilgrimage to the Tepeyac Temple, in Mexico City, the Diocese of Mazatlan was put in the hands of the Virgin of Guadalupe. At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration of August 10, Mons. Espinosa Contreras offered the Mass, among other intentions, for the victims of violence so that “the Lord is comforting them.”

He also asked for people who have been victims of forced disappearance, because “unfortunately they are increasing” in “almost all municipalities”

Since September 2024, several regions of the State have been the scene of violent clashes between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, originated by an internal dispute between the children of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and the followers of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

According to Official figuresfrom the beginning of the armed conflict until July 2025, 1,708 intelligible homicides have been registered in the entity.

This violence has also impacted parishioners. As the Prelate pointed out in an interview with the local media Northwest, That has caused a decrease in churches assistance and parish income.

An option for peace

During the homily, Mons. Espinosa Contreras called on Catholics to maintain a constant commitment to “guidance to good” and assume responsibilities “at work, in our faithfulness to the commitments assumed, priestly fidelity, marriage fidelity, family fidelity, fidelity to the faith of our parents, fidelity to God is our treasure.”

“Mother of beautiful love, we beg you that you intercede before the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that all of us who pilgrimage in the south of Sinaloa live the Gospel of love and fidelity, that we avoid what separates and divides us, which threatens the life, rights and integrity of people,” he said during the homily.

In addition, he made a special call to parents, teachers and priests so that with the word and the example they teach “the great value of human dignity”, and that they know how to recognize the “human needs and deficiencies and worry about relieving and solving them, that we all opt for peace, for justice, for fraternity, that we educate for responsibility and fidelity.”

The prelate reiterated the importance of being “in living the good news of salvation and generously demonstrating our contribution to build better families, a better society and a more peaceful, more just and more fraternal world.”