By love-89.com Gunmen in Mexico have shot and killed Father Marcelo Pérez, a Catholic priest renowned for his advocacy of indigenous rights and his outspoken condemnation of violence in his community. Father Marcelo was murdered shortly after celebrating Mass in the southern state of Chiapas, according to the prosecutor’s office.
For nearly two decades, Father Marcelo had dedicated his life to defending the rights of the Tzotzil indigenous group, of which he was a member. The Jesuit Order emphasized that his death should not be viewed as an isolated incident; rather, it is part of a broader surge of violence perpetrated by organized crime in Chiapas. “Father Marcelo was a symbol of resistance and support, defending the dignity and rights of the people while striving for authentic peace,” a representative from the Jesuit Order stated.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised that the investigation into Father Marcelo’s murder will be thorough and that justice will be served. The Mexican bishops’ conference mourned the loss of Father Marcelo, describing him as one of the “prophetic voices” advocating for peace, while lamenting the silencing of justice in Chiapas.
Emotions ran high during the wake for the beloved priest. He was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle who opened fire on his vehicle in the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. This tragic incident occurred early Sunday as Father Marcelo was returning to his parish from celebrating Mass in the Cuxtitali neighborhood.
Previously, Father Marcelo had been transferred to San Cristóbal de Las Casas after receiving death threats while serving in a rural parish. He had actively sought to mitigate conflict between a criminal gang and a vigilante group. Just a month ago, he described Chiapas as “a time bomb” during a protest he referred to as a “pilgrimage.” “Many have disappeared, many have been kidnapped, and many have been murdered due to the organized crime presence here,” he lamented.
Chiapas has witnessed an alarming rise in violence over the past year, particularly with the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels vying for control over the area. These criminal organizations also exploit migrants who pass through the state on their journey north toward the U.S. border. The situation has left local communities devastated, often forcing residents to remain indoors for days amid gunfire. The targeted assassination of a prominent human rights advocate marks a grave escalation in the violence that has plagued the region for months.