(ZENIT News / Mexico City, 01.28.2026).- A weekend marked by bloodshed and desecration has once again forced Mexico’s Catholic hierarchy to confront the country’s deepening spiral of violence.
The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) issued a forceful statement following two shocking incidents: a mass shooting that left at least 11 people dead at a community football field in Salamanca, Guanajuato, on Sunday, January 25, and an attempted arson attack against Puebla’s historic cathedral the previous night.
For the bishops, the events are not isolated crimes but symptoms of a broader social collapse.
The attack in Salamanca unfolded in the rural community of Loma de Flores, where armed men reportedly arrived in pickup trucks and opened fire on players and families gathered at a local football pitch. Salamanca’s mayor, César Prieto, confirmed that 10 victims died at the scene, while an eleventh succumbed to injuries later in hospital. Another 12 people were wounded.
“This assault wounds life itself, human dignity, and the peaceful coexistence of our society,” the CEM declared, calling for justice and insisting that the crime must not go unpunished. The bishops spoke of their “deep pain and indignation” as violence continues to grip large parts of the country.
Mayor Prieto did not mince words about the gravity of the situation, describing Salamanca as living through “a serious moment of social decomposition.” He acknowledged that criminal groups are actively attempting to overpower local authorities.
The municipality lies in a strategic corridor long contested by organized crime. According to local reporting, at least two major drug cartels — the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — are fighting for control of the region, a rivalry that has turned Guanajuato into one of Mexico’s most violent states in recent years.
Guanajuato’s governor, Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, condemned the massacre as “an unacceptable act that deeply hurts Guanajuato families.” Writing on X, she said a joint security operation was launched immediately, involving municipal police, the State Attorney General’s Office, and federal forces. The goal, she said, was to assist victims, secure the area, and push forward the investigation with determination.
She added that security across the region has been reinforced and pledged that the state would act firmly to restore calm and bring those responsible to justice.
But the bishops’ concern extended beyond Salamanca.
In the same statement, the CEM also denounced an attempted arson attack on Puebla Cathedral on Saturday night, January 24, which damaged one of the building’s main doors. Puebla’s cathedral is not only a central place of worship but also a UNESCO-recognized cultural landmark, making the incident resonate far beyond the local Church.
“This act strikes at the material, spiritual, and cultural heritage of humanity,” the bishops said, demanding a full clarification of what happened.
Taken together, the two events underscore a troubling reality: violence in Mexico increasingly reaches into spaces traditionally considered safe — family sports gatherings and sacred sites alike.
In response, the episcopate issued a dual appeal. To authorities, they urged a renewed sense of responsibility in protecting lives, ensuring public safety, and safeguarding churches and other sacred spaces. To society at large, they called for unity in the difficult work of rebuilding peace.
The statement closed on a distinctly Catholic note, entrusting the nation to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, revered as Queen of Mexico.
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