The Archdiocese of Tijuana and the Catholic Church in Mexico mourned the passing of Archbishop Francisco Moreno Barrón, who gave his soul to the Creator this Sunday, October 26, at the age of 71, victim of mesothelioma cancer that afflicted him for nearly three years. His departure comes just days after a relapse in his health reported last weekend, when his condition worsened irreversibly.
The bells of the churches in Tijuana rang in unison this afternoon to announce the death of the pastor who, with his closeness to the faithful, became a symbol of hope in a region marked by migration, violence, and social inequalities. In an official statement, the Archdiocese of Tijuana expressed with pain the departure of the archbishop.
Francisco Moreno Barrón was born on October 3, 1954, in Salamanca, Guanajuato. Son of a modest family, from a young age he showed a vocation for the priesthood. He entered the Diocesan Seminary of Morelia in 1973, where he studied philosophy and theology, culminating in his priestly ordination on March 25, 1980, at the age of 25.
His ministry as a priest took him to various parishes in the Archdiocese of Morelia. In 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Morelia, a position he held until 2008, when he was designated bishop of the Diocese of Tlaxcala, one of the oldest in America. In Tlaxcala, Moreno Barrón left an indelible mark by passionately promoting the cause of beatification and canonization of the Holy Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala: Cristóbal (13 years old), Antonio (12 years old), and Juan (8 years old), three Tlaxcalteca indigenous children executed in 1527 for their Christian faith, considered the protomartyrs of America.
As promoter of this cause, Moreno Barrón personally delivered to Pope Francis a painting with the original image of the children during an audience in the Vatican in 2017. His dedication culminated in the papal approval of their canonization that same year, 2017.
In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Tijuana, a challenging see due to its proximity to the United States and migratory flows. There, Moreno Barrón showed his pastoral style, humble and accessible, which made him a close and careful bishop of the liturgy.
The mesothelioma cancer diagnosis came in 2022, an aggressive tumor linked to environmental exposures. Despite two years and five months of intensive treatments, including chemotherapies, Moreno Barrón maintained his pastoral agenda as long as his health allowed. Last weekend, a sudden relapse led to his emergency admission, where, surrounded by his collaborators and in prayer, he transitioned to eternity.
Given the recent nature of the death, the details of the funeral rites have not yet been confirmed by the Archdiocese of Tijuana, although a funeral Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe is anticipated.
The news has provoked a wave of condolences from various Mexican dioceses. The Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) issued a message of «deep sorrow,» extending «our most sincere condolences to the Catholic community of Tijuana and to his family,» and praying that «the Lord receive him in his glory.» The Diocese of Tlaxcala, where he served as bishop, called on its faithful to unite in prayer for his soul, remembering his legacy in the canonization of the child martyrs. Other sees, such as the Archdiocese of Morelia, have expressed solidarity and closeness to the archdiocese he shepherded.
The archdiocese invites the faithful to stay tuned for the funeral honors as the program is announced.
Rest in peace.
