Mexico is gearing up for a major initiative aimed at tackling the country’s deep-rooted violence.
From January 30 to February 1, the ITESO Jesuit University campus in Guadalajara, Jalisco, will host the second edition of the National Dialogue for Peace, bringing together more than 1,000 influential voices from across society.
The event isn’t just another conference. Organizers hope it will mark the start of what they describe as a “decisive decade” for the nation, focusing on creating practical pathways toward peace.
A Diverse Gathering of Voices
According to the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM), this year’s dialogue will see 1,370 participants, including bishops, priests, and lay Catholics.
But it doesn’t stop there—victims of violence, students, business leaders, government officials, intellectuals, religious leaders, and experts from different fields and faiths will also be present.
The CEM, together with the Bishops’ Commission for the Laity, the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Orders in Mexico, and the Jesuits of Mexico, are co-sponsoring the event, highlighting its national significance.
A Response to Tragedy
The urgency behind this dialogue was amplified by the tragic murder of Jesuit priests Javier Campos and Joaquín Mora in Cerocahui, Chihuahua, in June 2022.
They lost their lives while trying to protect a tour guide, Pedro Palma, drawing attention to the country’s growing violence crisis.
The CEM statement notes that this incident reflects a larger, alarming pattern: “Hundreds of thousands of murders and disappearances in the country have prompted the largest listening movement in Mexico’s recent history.”
Over a thousand forums across the nation gathered more than 20,000 testimonies from victims, Indigenous communities, young people, business leaders, academics, churches, and civil organizations.
From Listening to Action
These extensive consultations led to the creation of the National Peace Agenda, the most comprehensive evaluation of Mexico’s violence crisis to date.
It revealed vast areas where the state’s authority is minimal and where violence has become the de facto law.
Participants of the dialogue have emphasized that achieving peace requires accountability.
“Without truth and justice for the victims, there is no peace for anyone,” the statement stressed.
A Message of Hope
Despite the staggering statistics and ongoing violence, the Church remains optimistic.
The Mexican Bishops’ Conference affirmed: “Mexico is not condemned to violence. Peace is possible, it is measurable, and it must begin today.”
The upcoming National Dialogue for Peace aims to transform these words into action, providing a structured, collaborative effort to build lasting peace across Mexico.
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