The Holy See in the Vatican remembered the people of San Cristóbal, the Diocese of San Cristóbal, Chiapas, and all of Mexico after the death of Father Marcelo Pérez. Young active Catholics in the Church of Guadalupe rang the bells in honor of the deceased priest and thanked Pope Francis for his message of closeness.
In a homily, Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar requested that the successor of Pope Francis continue his work, highlighting that there is much to learn from him. A week after the murder, the Pope sent a message to the Church of San Cristóbal de Las Casas in Chiapas, recalling the legacy of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez.
After his visit to Chiapas in 2016, Pope Francis strengthened processes initiated by Bishop Samuel Ruiz García, such as the organization and active participation of women and synodality in the Church. During his visit to Chiapas, the Pope celebrated a mass with indigenous people, spoke about the indigenous struggles for freedom, quoted the Popol Vuh, and addressed the environmental crisis.
Pope Francis's messages legitimized the work being done in Chiapas and strengthened the Diocese of San Cristóbal. The Diocesan Ministry of Mother Earth, created in 2014, promotes the care of the earth as a divine mandate. The encyclical Laudato Si' by Pope Francis reinforced this philosophy, promoting the care of the "common home."
The Pope also promoted the integration of indigenous spirituality into Catholic liturgy and the role of women in the Diocese of San Cristóbal. In addition, he encouraged synodality by convening assemblies to agree on internal regulations. Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar recalled the words of the murdered priest Marcelo Pérez during the Pope's visit to Chiapas.
Isela Guadalupe Díaz Lara, from the liturgical team of the parish of Guadalupe where Marcelo Pérez worked, highlighted the Pope's gesture in remembering the deceased priest. The community calls for peace and justice, remembering those who have suffered and given their lives.
