MEXICO CITY: Two Catholic priests have been killed while trying to rescue a gunman who ran into a church to save his life. Fr. Javier Campos, Fr. Joaquin Mora was the victim of a barrage of gunfire the previous day.
The news, which shocked the faith community, was delivered by the Provincial Superior of the Jesuit Church in Mexico, Fr. Luis Gerardo Moro was released by Madrid. He described the tragedy as “horrendous” and said it was a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into the killings in Mexico.
He said the church leadership was working with government agencies to ensure the safety of Jesuit members. Madrid informed. He urged the government to complete the investigation expeditiously and ensure the safety of the community, and requested in a prayer statement from the faith community.
The Superior General of the Jesuit Church, Fr. Arturo Sosa also expressed grief. He called for an end to the violence, and said his thoughts and prayers were with the Jesuit community in Mexico and their families.
Born in the capital city, Mexico City, Fr. Javier Campos was adopted by Tirupati in 1972. He served as a missionary in various places and started his service in 2019 in Serokahu, Tarahumara. In addition to his superior role in the Jesuit Mission, he was also involved in the pastoral ministry for the indigenous people under the Diocese of Tarahumara. Fr. Joaquin Mora was appointed to Serocahu in 2007.
Mexico, a Latin American country, has one of the highest rates of violence against clergy in the world. About 60 priests have been reported killed in the past 25 years. Clergy and church ministers are under threat, especially from mafia gangs and drug traffickers.
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