AMERICA/MEXICO - Mexico's national Cathedral reopens after closing for a week following episodes of violence in the church

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - After having been closed for a week, the national Cathedral of Mexico opened in the evening of Saturday 24 November for first Vespers of the Solemnity of Christ the King, according to a statement issued by the archdiocese of Mexico.
The Cathedral was closed on Sunday 18 after a group of 200 hundred persons entered the church while Mass was being said, attacking and insulting the faithful gathered there. After the Mass the church authorities decided the cathedral would remain closed until security was guaranteed.
After a week of meetings the cathedral council decided to open the church again for Solemn Vespers of the solemnity of Christ the King. The statement expresses gratitude for the many messages of solidarity received, including a letter from the president of the Council of Latin American Bishops' Conferences which in which it was stated, among other things, "the violence in the cathedral is a sign of a lack of respect for the Church and for the culture of Mexico". The CELAM presidency condemns such violence and expresses solidarity with the archdiocese, and the hope that such acts will not be repeated. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2007: righe 19, parole 247)