Mexican Catholic Jubilee Year for the centenary of the Cristero War, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Catholic bishops of Mexico opened their CXXI Plenary Assembly with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of Guadalupe. The ceremony was attended by nearly all of Mexico’s bishops and presided over by Ramón Castro Castro, Bishop of Cuernavaca and president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM).
Castro announced an upcoming Jubilee Year for the Cristero Resistance. The jubilee will begin on November 22, 2026, the Solemnity of Christ the King, and conclude on November 21, 2027.
During that period, a plenary indulgence will be granted to those who make pilgrimage to the shrines of Mexican martyrs, the Shrine of Christ the King on Cerro del Cubilete, and churches designated by the bishops in their territories.
Castro recalled that the so-called Calles Law took effect on July 31, 1926, and that in response to the restrictions, Mexican bishops suspended public celebrations. “At dawn on August 1, Mexico awoke without public Masses,” he said, adding that while “the stone churches fell silent, the living churches continued to bear witness.”
He argued that remembering these events should not be used to “reopen wounds, feed resentments or point out enemies,” but rather to understand history and work toward reconciliation. He stated that “no one should be persecuted, silenced or harmed for believing, for not believing, or for living according to their conscience,” and that religious freedom should serve the common good rather than “fundamentalist visions” or “particular interests.”
During the homily, figures such as Anacleto González Flores, Toribio Romo, Luis Batis, Mateo Correa, José María Robles, Miguel de la Mora, Miguel Agustín Pro and José Sánchez del Río were remembered. Castro quoted González Flores: “I die, but God does not die,” and said holiness consists not only in admiring the martyrs but in “learning to live as Christ, giving our lives for others.”
Castro also addressed current challenges, including violence, impunity, threats against priests and pastoral workers, the murders of journalists, families searching for the disappeared, and the suffering of communities. “Defending the house of God means defending life, justice, freedom, truth and the dignity of our brothers and sisters,” he said.
Addressing those who provoke violence, he asked them to stop harming their brothers and sisters, to show mercy and return their hearts to God.
He also called for building a “disarmed and disarming peace” and said Mexico needs people capable of disarming their hearts, abandoning hatred and working for a society where no one must live in fear. He cited Pope Francis and his exhortation Fratelli Tutti in calling for “artisans of peace.”
The central announcement was the Jubilee Year, whose motto will be “Your faith, our memory; your witness, our mission.” According to Castro, the Holy Father granted the plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, to pilgrims visiting the martyrs’ shrines, Cerro del Cubilete and churches designated by each bishop in his diocese.
Castro asked that this period be “not merely a historical anniversary or one more commemoration,” but “a true time of conversion.” He concluded by asking that “memory not divide us but reconcile us,” that “faith not enclose us but commit us,” and that “devotion not remain on our lips but transform our hearts into works of love.” He also invoked Our Lady of Guadalupe as “Mother of Mexico, Mother of the martyrs and comfort of our people.”
The indulgence decree, issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary and dated November 6, asks pilgrims to pray for peace and harmony among peoples and for priestly and religious vocations, concluding with the Our Father, the Creed and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
