Pope Francis has remembered Father Marcelo Pérez, a Mexican priest murdered in Chiapas, as a “fervent servant of the Gospel and of the faithful People of God.” During the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope expressed his closeness to the Church of San Cristóbal de las Casas, which is grieving the loss of Father Marcelo. Two men killed the priest after celebrating Mass, and his diocese remembered him as a “tireless apostle of peace.”
The Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) condemned the “brutal murder,” stating that it not only deprived the community of a dedicated pastor but also silenced a prophetic voice advocating for peace, truth, and justice in Chiapas. Pope Francis prayed that Father Marcelo’s sacrifice, along with those of other murdered priests, would be “seeds of peace and Christian life.”
Additionally, the Pope addressed a special greeting to the brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in Rome, encouraging them to continue on the path of faith. He also marked the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality, inviting everyone to pray for the Church’s progress. Furthermore, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with the people of the Philippines, affected by a powerful cyclone, praying that “the Lord support that people, so full of faith.”