Mexican bishops welcome the new president and urge her to pursue social peace

Mexico’s bishops’ conference has called on the country’s newly sworn-in president to pursue social peace as she inherits the complicated legacy of her popular and polarizing predecessor, who promoted social programs for the poor but leaves her in a country rife with violence and alleged fall back on democracy.

Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn into the country’s Congress on October 1 as the first female Mexican president in history.

In a September 30 statement, the bishops wished President Sheinbaum well while encouraging her to govern for all Mexicans as she faces an increasingly powerful presidency and the ruling Morena party has a megamajority in both houses of Congress – giving her can rule effectively by decree.

“We believe that when a woman becomes President of the Republic for the first time, she will be very sensitive and respectful and will promote everything that will contribute to the good and social development of all citizens,” the bishops’ statement said.

“Mexico faces great challenges, which offer an opportunity to grow in participation and dialogue, overcome polarization, seek reconciliation (and) reach the necessary agreements with all political forces – without destroying minorities – to, through dialogue and consensus, the project of the common good, so that Mexican society can live in peace,” the bishops wrote.

Sheinbaum, 62, takes office as Mexico’s first female president and first Jewish head of state, although she identifies as non-religious. A climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, she received more than 60% of the vote in the June 2 elections, continuing the populist political project of her mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Mexican presidents cannot stand for re-election.

According to the newspaper El Financiero, López Obrador is leaving office with an approval rating of 68%. AMLO, as he is often called, raised the minimum wage, built megaprojects ranging from railroads to a refinery and implemented a series of cash grants for seniors, single mothers and students.

According to a 2022 study by the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, poverty fell by 5% during his administration, although his elimination of health insurance more than doubled the number of Mexicans without health care to 40% of the population.

Sister Juana Ángeles Zárate, a Carmelite nun of the Sacred Heart, said the president’s discourse – while often polarizing – promised to “put the poor first” and resonated with the population.

“It seems that sometimes the president has a connection with the people,” Sister Juana, a former president of the Conference of Religious Superiors of Mexico, told OSV News. “Of course that also touched many hearts in society and the church.”

Father Filiberto Velázquez, director of social ministries in the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, told OSV News that the president’s approval is due to “a countless number of social programs that have a positive impact on vulnerable people.”

But he expressed skepticism with claims of change, saying: “In the end, corruption, our institutions and impunity remain the same.”

Difficulties such as rampant insecurity also persisted throughout, although he often downplayed or dismissed them. At least 30 candidates were killed during the 2024 election cycle, raising concerns about drug cartels capturing local governments.

“We believe that reality speaks for itself and immediately requires public policies that guarantee the security of citizens, overcome poverty and inequality and promote national unity and harmony among all,” the bishops’ statement said.

“This policy must be promoted and guaranteed by the Government of the Republic, in accordance with its constitutional mandate and the instruments and means at its disposal to achieve the goal of social peace. No more dominance by organized crime or crime in general.”

Violence hit the church hard when two elderly Jesuits were murdered in their parish by a known crime boss in 2022. The bishops’ conference urged a reconsideration of the president’s security strategy, but López Obrador responded with a rebuke.

Mexico’s Catholic leaders subsequently held peace forums and produced a blueprint for pacifying Mexico. The blueprint was signed by the three presidential candidates in March, although Sheinbaum called its analysis “pessimistic.”

Jesuit Father Jorge Atilano said dialogue with Sheinbaum’s staff has continued. “We trust that it will be a government with openness and that we can take steps towards cooperation,” he told OSV News.

López Obrador ended his term with a series of constitutional changes, including an overhaul of the judiciary. The judicial system reform requires all judges – even Supreme Court justices – to be voted in by the people, raising concerns that the president would gain control of the courts.

Referring to the changes, the bishops said: “We are convinced… that Mexico is called to once again experience a true democratic state governed by the rule of law.” They continued: “Without trust there is no development nor a stable future.”

David Agren writes for OSV News from Mexico City.