On January 25th, the Believing People of the Diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas made a pilgrimage to honor jTatic Samuel Ruiz Garcia, former bishop of this diocese who died nine years ago and to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Third Diocesan Synod.
Thousands of Catholics from the 57 parishes of San Cristobal marched that day from outside the city to Resistance Square in the center shouting “Long live the jTatik Samuel”, “Long live the church that walks with the people” or “Long live Mother Earth”.
During the pilgrimage they distributed a statement expressing their “fraternal and sororal solidarity […] with the peoples, groups and organizations that seek life and defend it when women’s rights and gender equity are at risk”.
They also stand in solidarity “with the builders and of community reconciliation, with the families of thousands of missing persons victims of violence, with young people who risk their faith and ideals, with the pain of displaced sisters and brothers.”
The parish priest of Simojovel, Marcelo Perez Perez, reported that the pilgrimage participants spoke against the megaprojects planned by the federal government in southern Mexico and also against hydroelectric and mining projects.
To close the pilgrimage the bishop of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez, officiated a mass commemorating his predecessor.
For more information in Spanish:
Conmemorarán el aniversario luctuoso de Samuel Ruiz García (NVI Noticias el 21 de enero de 2020)
Conmemoran al obispo Samuel Ruiz en su noveno aniversario luctuoso (El Universal el 25 de enero de 2020)
Para más información de SIPAZ:
Chiapas: Believing People Pilgrimage on Eighth Anniversary of Jtatic Samuel Ruiz (January 31, 2019)
Chiapas: Pueblo Creyente organize a pilgrimage on the seventh anniversary of jTatik Samuel Ruiz (February 3rd, 2018)
Chiapas: Believing People Pilgrimage (February 5th, 2017)
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