The Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) inaugurated its 119th Plenary Assembly on Monday, November 10, at Casa Lago. The event, which brings together more than a hundred bishops along with religious sisters and lay collaborators, began with an opening Mass presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri. In his homily, Spiteri invoked the figure of Saint Leo the Great to exhort those present to recognize their Christian dignity as a tool to face the serious social challenges, particularly the violence and organized crime that plague Mexico.
The Pope’s representative in the country since 2022, quoted the famous sermon of Saint Leo the Great on the Nativity of the Lord: «O Christian, recognize your dignity and, becoming a participant in the divine nature, refuse to return to your former baseness.» Spiteri emphasized that this dignity, derived from the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ, is not a selfish or presumptuous concept, but an invitation to humility and true greatness. «If we recognize our dignity that comes from Christ, we will also manage to recognize our smallness and at the same time our true greatness,» he affirmed, contrasting this with modern introspection which, according to him, often becomes self-referential and closed.
The homily focused on contemporary challenges, both personal and social. Spiteri highlighted the «scandalous situation of violence» that persists in Mexico, describing it as a «war» that bleeds the people dry, driven by organized crime that seems to be strengthening. He compared these times to the era of Saint Leo the Great, marked by the collapse of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions, which the pope had to confront personally. «We live in difficult times, obviously as they were in the times of Saint Leo the Great,» he said, warning against the trap of normalizing violence and perceiving that «everything is fine.»
In a call to prophetic action, the nuncio urged the bishops to denounce these evils, but also to be «propositive» through peace dialogue projects that are being implemented in the dioceses and that will be reviewed during the assembly. He underscored the importance of communion and authentic dialogue, beginning among the bishops themselves to extend it to their communities. Referring to the Gospel of the day on fraternal correction, Spiteri linked it to forgiveness and reconciliation, essential for building a «true peace» in the clergy, the dioceses, and society. «Fraternal correction is very important for the construction of true peace,» he insisted, exhorting not to ignore problematic attitudes or accusations against priests, but to address them with charity and truth.
Another pillar of his message was divine wisdom, not to be confused with human intelligence or technical knowledge, but as a relationship with God that allows weaving relationships in truth and charity. He asked for the intercession of Saint Leo the Great, defender of dogmas such as those of Ephesus and Chalcedon, to guide the assembly in a spirit of prayer and faith. «Faith is not a matter of volume, but of relationship with God,» he stressed, wishing fruits for the good of the people of God in Mexico.
The 119th Assembly, which will run from November 10 to 14, will address topics such as peace, priestly formation, and social pastoral care, in a national context marked by more than 200,000 homicides in the last six years and armed conflicts in regions like Guerrero and Michoacán.
Spiteri concluded his homily on a note of hope: united to the Lord, Christians can face challenges with greatness. This message resonates in a Mexico that seeks to heal its wounds, reminding that Christian dignity is not passive, but a call to transformative action. The assembly represents a key moment for the Mexican Church in its commitment to justice and reconciliation.