AMERICA/MEXICO - “We are Mexicans, not citizens of the Vatican! But, the real problems are poverty, violence, and drug-trafficking and we live this alongside the Mexican people,” so the Bishops in the Assembly

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – "We are Mexicans, not citizens of the Vatican! We are Mexicans like everybody else. We are immersed in our national reality, with its lights and shadows, and in communion with the joys and hopes, sorrows and sufferings of the country. We are concerned about the country's problems and try to offer our contribution to the solution." Thus begins the document sent by the Bishops of Mexico to Fides at the very beginning of their LXXXIX General Assembly (see Fides 10/04/2010). This "clarification," as the document itself explains, comes as a response to anyone who still insists that the Bishops are citizens of the Vatican, which is why the document is entitled "Bishops in Mexico, with Mexico, and for Mexico.”
The document, which is signed by Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristobal de Las Casas, presents what is proposed in this LXXXIX Plenary Assembly: "We are 110 bishops gathered in the Assembly, to consider and approve the work programs of the eight Bishops' Commissions and their their dimensions, each with its own identity and mission."
They mention that their reference point is the document published by the Bishops in February, in which “we agree that there are several factors contributing to insecurity and violence, poverty and inequality, the inadequate economic reforms, unemployment and underemployment, the corruption and impunity, crime, the shortcomings in the administration of justice, corruption in the prison system, institutionalized violence, and the excesses of the security forces.... With the light of the Gospel and of our social teaching, we present a Creator who is God and Father of all, who loves us with merciful love. With the power of love and communion, with all men and women of good will, we must seek the universal common good. Therefore, we insist on promoting full human development, respect for human rights and duties, justice and solidarity, social reconciliation, as a way to build peace and tranquility.”
(CE) (Agenzia Fides 15/04/2010)