San Cristóbal de las Casas, April 27, 2026
“We cry out to them: Stop! It is time for peace!” Leo XIV
To the brothers and sisters of the organized community of Nicolás Ruíz
To the brothers and sisters of the parish community of San Bartolomé de los Llanos
As the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to you as you suffer the pain caused by the violence you have experienced in recent days; especially to the families who have sadly lost a loved one.
We recognize and value your journey of struggle and resistance to maintain your organized community through the assembly of communal assets. As Pope Francis has taught us, “continue to be artisans of peace, ready to foster processes of healing and reconciliation with ingenuity and boldness” (Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, No. 225).
These violent incidents targeting the communities of Nicolás Ruíz and Venustiano Carranza demonstrate that the government lacks a genuine strategy to combat organized crime and criminal groups; despite the official rhetoric that criminal groups would not be tolerated in Chiapas. As Agents of Animation and Pastoral Coordination, we observe that criminal groups continue to operate and control territories within our state with complete impunity, causing threats, persecution, disappearances, and death.
As the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas, we demand: That the safety and integrity of the communities of Nicolás Ruiz and Venustiano Carranza be guaranteed. That the state government implement a genuine peace strategy that guarantees the safety, justice, and integrity of every person in our state of Chiapas.
As a diocese, we join the demands of the organized people of Nicolás Ruiz:
- · A prompt and thorough investigation into the events that took place
- · Full reparation for all the harm that has been caused
- · The safe return of our brother Ángel Jiménez López
- · The right to live in peace, as guaranteed by ILO Convention No. 169
- · Guaranteed safety for the communities working to build peace
“Basta ya de la guerra” León XIV
DIOCESE OF SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS
Pbro. Víctor Manuel Pérez Hernández
General Vicar
Rodrigo Aguilar Martínez
Bishop of San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Sr. Carolina Lara Rodríguez
Vicar for Pastoral Care
Rev. Bernabé Antonio Altamirano Díaz
Coordinator of Social Ministry
Sr. Micaela Méndez Vázquez, OSF
Chancellor
Rev. Miguel Ángel Montoya Moreno, MSC
Vicar for Justice and Peace
Translation by Schools for Chiapas.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons.
