On this Christmas of 2025, Mexico wraps itself in festive lights and traditions under a mantle of shadows that do not dissipate. Unlike other countries where Christmas seeks to erode and be banished from culture, our families still gather around the table to commemorate the birth of Christ with the desire to live in peace and stability; however, the country faces acute political polarization, null economic growth, and persistent violence that claims lives daily, evaporating hope in the well-being of a peaceful and promising future.
In contrast, the recent Christmas message from the bishops of Mexico, «From the Manger to Hope», invites us to contemplate the mystery of a God who becomes vulnerable to heal our collective wounds, a call to Christian hope that cannot ignore the difficult and harsh reality of a Mexico that needs more than the words of official triumphalism; it needs action instead of demagoguery to rebuild a torn social fabric.
Political polarization has reached alarming levels, turning disagreement into irreconcilable identity. In August, an incident in the Senate—where opposition and ruling party senators nearly came to blows—symbolized the deterioration of democratic dialogue. With a weakened opposition, as analysts warn, Mexico runs the risk of an unbalanced democracy, where power concentrates without effective checks.
The November protests, following the assassination of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, have exacerbated divisions, with anti-government demonstrations reflecting widespread discontent.
All that polarization permeates and even reaches to divide families, communities, and even churches, contradicting the bishops’ message that evokes the Holy Family as a sanctuary of unity. Joseph and Mary, in their poverty and exodus, remind us that the family is the place where God is born, but in a polarized Mexico, how to protect the family with authentic public policies when political hatred infiltrates even homes and the will of millions is sought to be bought with handouts from social programs?
Economically, the outlook is one of uncertainty. The Bank of Mexico cut its growth forecast for 2025 to a mere 0.3%, after a third quarter where GDP fell 0.3% from the previous one. Organizations like the OECD and the World Bank agree on figures close to 0.5%, confirming a stagnation that worsens poverty and inequality. This null progress is not just statistical; it directly impacts Christmas tables, where many families struggle to put an extra plate on.
The bishops, quoting Saint Augustine, invite us to see in the Child of the manger the «Bread of life who is hungry,» a reminder that God identifies with the vulnerable, but criticizing this economic inertia is imperative; the regime, despite promises of transformative continuity, has failed to promote inclusive growth, leaving millions in precariousness.
Another uncontrolled situation is the violence that persists without quarter. Although the government reports a 37% drop in daily homicides under Sheinbaum, the national rate remains at 23.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, with more than 30,000 annual deaths since 2018. In Sinaloa, clashes between cartels raised homicides by 400% in the last year, turning entire regions into war zones. The Mexico Peace Index 2025 warns of institutional deterioration, where impunity fuels democratic erosion. Militarization, inherited and expanded, has not eradicated organized crime; on the contrary, it has intensified cycles of revenge that make entire regions have no Christmas truce.
Nevertheless, Christmas encloses a transcendent sign, not just a bucolic image but a prophecy of renewal. In a wounded Mexico, Christmases can no longer pass with the same indifference to pain. The manger of Bethlehem is the sign that this hope is not passive; it demands reconciliation as the Pope emphasizes: «Do not divide the world into irreconcilable factions».
From the Centro Católico Multimedial we wish that this Christmas Eve inspire concrete actions, political dialogue, social investment, and integral peace, but above all conversion, not just demagogic transformation. Mexico, with its Guadalupan faith, can be reborn. To all, Merry Christmas! The Savior of the world has been born to us!