7 killed at Mexican church event in suspected cartel attack

Seven young people in Mexico were fatally shot by gangsters while attending a Catholic festival within the state of Guanajuato.

On Monday morning a bunch of gunmen, believed to be from the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel drove into the center of town and began shooting, apparently at random.

According to the BBC, cartel attacks on nightclubs and bars are common, nonetheless attacks on Catholic events are considered unusual. Despite this, religious liberty organisations have noted that Mexico is increasingly becoming a rustic of concern.

Open Doors placed Mexico at 31 on its 2025 watch list of the worst countries for persecution, ahead of some Islamic and communist states – Egypt is at 40, while Vietnam is at 44 – and up six places from its previous position, indicating a worsening situation.

While on the face of it a Christian country, the scourge of gang violence signifies that many strange residents no matter their faith could be the targets of gang violence. Faith leaders who openly oppose the gangs face the actual danger of abduction and or murder.

The Episcopal Conference of Mexico said of Monday’s shooting that folks “cannot remain indifferent within the face of the spiral of violence that’s wounding so many communities”.

The local archbishop, Jaime Calderón, said he believed the attack was a part of a gang war between Santa Rosa de Lima and a rival cartel often called the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. 

Witnesses claim that the attack involved tons of of shots over the course of just a few minutes. Of the seven fatalities, two of the dead where under 18.

Open Doors suggests the next prayer for the situation in Mexico:

“Heavenly Father, thank You for our brothers and sisters in Mexico, and for his or her courage in standing as much as the violence and crime that’s so rife within the country. Strengthen them and fill them with Your Holy Spirit; give them the suitable words to say as they proceed to face against injustice.

“Protect believers from being recruited by criminal gangs and produce an end to the hold that these groups have over the nation. Help believers from indigenous backgrounds to search out secure places to satisfy and worship – may their testimonies shine Your light in dark places, Amen.”