Church in Mexico supporting families of the ‘disappeared’

Mexico City, June 10, 2025 — The Archdiocese of Mexico City, under the leadership of Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Javier Acero, is actively supporting more than 200 grassroots search collectives formed by families of individuals who have gone missing amid escalating criminal violence in the country.

These search collectives, many composed of grieving mothers and fathers, have taken the search for their loved ones into their own hands, combing vacant lots and remote areas in hopes of locating remains. Most of the missing are believed to have fallen victim to drug cartel violence, narco-political retaliation, or illegal human organ trafficking—an explanation for the alarming number of young people, including children and infants, among the disappeared.

The movement arose out of frustration with government inaction and has grown significantly in scope and impact. With more than 125,000 people officially listed as missing since 2006, according to Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior, families have stopped relying on state institutions and now act on tips submitted anonymously by fellow citizens.

To support these efforts, the Catholic Church has partnered with communities and NGOs to establish “Peace Boxes"—secure drop boxes placed in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Mexico City and beyond. These allow citizens to discreetly report suspected clandestine grave sites or criminal activity. The tips are reviewed monthly by Church-led support teams.

“We read every submission during our meetings,” said Bishop Acero during an interview with Vatican News. “Through this process, we’ve located burial sites and even aided in the rescue of kidnapped individuals.”

Bishop Acero personally participates in these monthly meetings, often held with mothers who have dedicated their lives to the search. “Families cannot grieve until they recover the remains of their loved ones,” he said. “Our mission, rooted in the Gospel, is to be present, to listen, and to advocate for truth and justice.”

The Church's visibility in this national crisis increased following the March 2025 discovery of the so-called “Ranch of Horror” in Jalisco State—where hundreds of charred human remains and more than 1,800 personal effects were found. Authorities now believe the site was used by criminal groups as both a training ground and an extermination centre, complete with crematory ovens. Prior police reports had downplayed the site’s significance, further eroding public trust in state institutions.

In response, Mexico’s Episcopal Conference condemned the atrocities as “crimes against humanity” and called on the government to break all ties with organised crime and drug cartels.

Bishop Acero, who helped launch peace dialogues in 2024, has emerged as a prominent moral voice. He emphasised that the Church is committed to fostering dialogue among victims’ families, civil society, and state actors. “In the face of Mexico’s situation, our mission is to build bridges across all sectors of society, including with the government,” he said.

Yet he cautioned that these dialogues risk becoming superficial if they fail to centre the lived experience of grieving families. “The search commission appointed by the government exists, but it lacks deep listening,” he noted. “We ask only that authorities truly hear the mothers, fathers, and siblings who can’t grieve without the remains of their loved ones. We seek ongoing dialogue, not polarisation.”

One concrete appeal that Bishop Acero has received from many searching mothers is for parishes to mention the names of the disappeared during Mass. “I know many bishops are quietly supporting families in high-risk areas,” he said. “They’re helping share information while protecting both priests and families. The next step is better coordination between dioceses, just as we are doing at the provincial level—to strengthen this network of hope and action.”

As violence continues to scar communities across Mexico, the Catholic Church remains committed to its mission of accompaniment and advocacy. “We listen to these families as Jesus would,” said Bishop Acero.

Courtesy: Vatican News