The murder of padre Román de la Cruz Hernández, which occurred on September 15 in Huejutla, Hidalgo, has shaken the Church in Mexico amid the commemorative celebrations of Independence. His body was found on a stretch of road between Tolago and Tetlapaya, with gunshot wounds and an intimidating message placed on him. Next to the body was a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with Baja California license plates. The priest, originally from Mazahuacán, Lolotla, had served as parish priest of the Santa Cruz community in Huejutla since 2024 and coordinated the Commission for Prophetic Pastoral Care of the diocese. His pastoral work had made him a close figure to the indigenous and rural communities of the region, making the end of his life even more painful.
Bishop of Huejutla, José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán, issued a statement on September 16 expressing shock and sadness over the crime, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and to ensure that the murder does not go unpunished. The message emphasized the need for respect for life and a real commitment to justice in a country marked by violence. The Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) also spoke out condemning the homicide and demanding a prompt investigation. The statement expressed indignation and solidarity with the diocese of Huejutla, offering prayers for the priest’s rest and strength for his community. The CEM’s stance reflects the gravity of the case and concern over the growing insecurity affecting pastoral agents in Mexico.
The Catholic Multimedia Center (CCM), in its Annual Report 2025, documents more than thirty attacks against priests during Claudia Sheinbaum’s term, including homicides, disappearances, and threats. The report also notes attacks on churches and lay communities, with fires, looting, and desecrations in various dioceses across the country. The CCM warns that the administration has been marked by a sustained increase in violence against pastoral agents, especially in regions with a strong presence of organized crime. Impunity and lack of institutional protection have left the Church in a vulnerable position, calling for public policies that guarantee security and religious freedom. The report concludes that violence against priests and religious communities constitutes a systematic pattern that requires urgent attention from the Mexican State.
The case of padre Román de la Cruz fits into this alarming trend. His murder, accompanied by a message, reveals the intention of criminal groups to sow fear in communities and to openly challenge religious institutions. The immediate reaction of the diocese of Huejutla and the Mexican Episcopal Conference shows the gravity of the incident and the demand for justice. However, the experience documented by the Catholic Multimedia Center indicates that many of these crimes remain unsolved, fueling the perception of impunity and weakening trust in authorities. The Mexican Church thus faces a double challenge: accompanying its communities amid violence and demanding effective guarantees of security and justice from the State.
The death of padre Román de la Cruz is a painful reminder of the vulnerability of those who exercise pastoral ministry in regions hit by organized crime. It is also a call to society and authorities to recognize that violence against priests, laypeople, and churches is not a marginal problem, but a symptom of the security crisis facing the country. The Catholic Multimedia Center’s Annual Report 2025 offers a stark overview: violence against the Church has multiplied in recent years and has reached alarming levels during Claudia Sheinbaum’s term. The murder of padre Román thus becomes a symbol of that reality and a demand for justice that cannot be ignored.