While thousands of residents of the western state of Jalisco in Mexico sheltered in their homes on Sunday, Feb. 22, due to the wave of violence unleashed by the capture and death of drug cartel leader Nemesio Ocegueda Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the small image of the Virgin of Zapopan appeared on the central balcony of the basilica dedicated to her, located in the Guadalajara metropolitan area of Jalisco.
“La Zapopana,” as she is also known, is deeply intertwined with the devotion and faith of the people of Jalisco. Every year, some 3 million faithful participate in a pilgrimage to accompany her image back to her basilica after several months of veneration at various churches in the city.
Arriving in Mexico in 1530, her image accompanied the Franciscan Antonio de Segovia on his evangelizing mission. Since then, Our Lady has earned various titles, including that of “Peacemaker,” because throughout her long history the calming of storms and wars and the granting of many miracles have been attributed to her intercession.
Her image is kept in the basilica bearing her name by the Franciscan Province of Sts. Francis and James. The Franciscans brought her image to the balcony on Sunday so that, as they said, her presence might bring peace to the city and the country experiencing a wave of violence stemming from the arrest and death of Ocegueda and seven members of his cartel, known as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG, by its Spanish acronym).
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City also joined in the day of prayer, asking the “the Morenita of Tepeyac” for her protection during those hours of violence. Throughout Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as “La Morenita,” an affectionate title that refers to the mixed race (meztiza) skin color of the miraculous image of a Spanish-Indian woman who symbolizes the peaceful unity of these two peoples in one faith in Christ.
Before authorities officially confirmed the drug lord’s death, Jalisco awoke to dozens of burning vehicles, convenience stores, supermarkets, and some banks — actions that were replicated in other states as a reaction by the CJNG to the death of its leader, according to authorities.
The federal government reported a total of 252 roadblocks put up by cartel members in 20 states and said that by Sunday night, 90% of them had been cleared.
Due to the unrest, parishes in Jalisco suspended religious services and churches closed their doors, with some priests broadcasting their homilies via social media.
A video on X posted by Karla Barajas went viral because it showed the moment when Father Pedro Martínez Navarro of Holy Cross Parish in El Salto, a town outside Guadalajara, with the Blessed Sacrament in his hands and on the roof of the church, prayed for peace in those moments of unrest.
Catholic bishops in Mexico also joined the call for peace and participated in the day of prayer held amid the violence and uncertainty gripping the country.
The Archbishop Primate of Mexico, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, issued a statement calling on the Catholic community to work together to build social peace in Mexico.
“We are aware of the difficult times we are facing as a society; therefore, I am sending this message to revive our courage and to call on everyone to be collaborators for the common good, promoting the justice and social peace we need,” he said in the statement.
Cardinal José Francisco Robles Ortega, archbishop of Guadalajara, also posted an official statement on his social media, calling on the faithful to remain calm and follow the instructions of the authorities.
“Let us lift up our supplications with faith and persistence to God the Father, Lord of history, to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, so that there may be no lives of innocent people to be mourned, and that tranquility may return to our land,” he said in his letter.
The Society of Jesus also joined in the call for prayers for peace in Mexico while sending a message to the people and communities affected by Sunday’s events.
“We know that pain, fear, and uncertainty can feel very close, especially when daily life is disrupted by events beyond our control. Let us pray for peace in Mexico. May the God of life sustain those who suffer most, those who have lost the peace of their homes, and those who walk in fear through their cities and on their roads,” they said in their statement.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed at a press conference on Feb. 23 that the operation in which the Mexican drug lord was killed by the military had intelligence support from the United States.
“Today there is more peace, and there is government, there are armed forces, there is a security cabinet, and there is a great deal of coordination, so you can rest assured that peace, security, and normalcy are being safeguarded in the country,” she emphasized.
Secretary of National Defense of Mexico General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said in the violence that ensued following the death of the cartel leader, 25 members of the National Guard, a prison guard, and a member of the attorney general’s office were also killed, as well as a woman uninvolved in the events.
The military officer was filled with emotion as he offered his condolences to the families of the security personnel killed in the fighting and recognized the military personnel who participated in the operation.
“It can be viewed from many perspectives, but it is clear that they fulfilled their mission, and what was demonstrated was the strength of the Mexican state — of that there is no doubt,” he emphasized as he spoke to the media.
As of Monday morning, Jalisco remained under the highest level of alert, which activates coordination among the various law enforcement agencies.
The streets remained nearly empty, and education officials in the state ordered the suspension of classes at all levels, while financial institutions, businesses, and some shops announced they would not yet reopen.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
