In a massive demonstration of faith and devotion, nearly 50 thousand young people from all over Mexico gathered on January 31st in the foothills of Cerro del Cubilete, in Silao, Guanajuato, to participate in the National Youth March to Christ the King 2026, renamed «Centennial March» in commemoration of the 100 years since the start of the Cristero War (1926-1929).
The event, organized by the Testimonio y Esperanza Movement, culminated with a mass presided over by Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Spiteri and concelebrated by the Archbishop of León, Jaime Calderón Calderón, highlighting a call for peace and conversion in times of violence.
The pilgrimage began in the early hours of Saturday in a journey of more than 10 kilometers along steep paths between hills and places. Under the motto “Where there is cross and sacrifice, Glory is born”, the young people advanced with chants, cheers, and prayers, enduring the morning cold and the midday sun. Many arrived in buses that stretched for kilometers on the Guanajuato-Silao highway, while others chose to start the ascent on foot, showing solidarity by sharing food. The previous event, known as Cubifest in Aguas Buenas, included a Holy Hour at dawn, spiritually preparing the attendees.
This special edition is framed within the centenary of the Cristiada, an armed conflict triggered by the «Calles Law» during the government of Plutarco Elías Calles, which criminalized aspects of Catholic worship and religious education, accumulating tensions since the Constitution of 1917. The Church responded with peaceful resistance, but thousands of faithful took up arms with the cry of «¡Viva Cristo Rey!», facing the federal forces until the 1929 agreement mediated by the Vatican and the United States. The 2026 ascent pays homage to the Cristero martyrs, but emphasizes a message of peace, remembering that «the Catholic does not seek battle, does not seek war; seeks peace», as has been highlighted in ecclesial reflections.
At the summit, in front of the imposing Monument to Christ the King –a statue that symbolizes Mexican faith–, the Holy Mass was celebrated. Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Spiteri, in his homily, invoked the call of Pope Leo XIV to be «artisans of peace», urging dialogue, truth, and conversion. «We cannot achieve the true peace that we all desire without truth; truth also demands a change of heart, what we call conversion, a change to a simpler, more respectful lifestyle. Also asking for the conversion of those who carry weapons, of those who want power, their law of the strongest, over all brothers«, expressed Spiteri, urging the young people to weave relationships of fraternity and solidarity to overcome violence, the lack of respect for human dignity, and the imposition of the law of the strongest.
The participants, from various dioceses, not only prayed and sang, but also carried posters demanding respect for life from conception to natural death, and dignified job opportunities. Archbishop Calderón Calderón, along with other bishops and priests, reinforced the message of spiritual unity, remembering the heritage of the martyrs as a source of hope in a Mexico plagued by insecurity.
Likewise, the Bishop of Celaya, Víctor Alejandro Aguilar Ledesma, highlighted in a subsequent press conference at the Celaya cathedral on February 1, the strength of youth faith, describing the participants as «leaven, yeast, and witness». He emphasized how the young people shouted with faith and hope: “If they dynamite this monument, we build another”, reflecting their maternal commitment to the Church and a «new resurgence» in the midst of the centenary commemoration of the Cristero resistance.
This march, which is held annually, exceeded expectations in 2026 due to its commemorative nature, attracting a vibrant Catholic youth that sends a clear message: the blood of the martyrs was not in vain. In the words of the organizers, the young people are «heirs to the Cristero spirit without weapons or war slogans», focused on peace and evangelization. The event not only revitalizes faith, but also invites society to reflect on religious freedom and national reconciliation, in a context where the Church continues to be a pillar of hope for millions.