Priest shot dead in the Diocese of Huejutla

Police discovered the body of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández, the 48-year-old parish priest of Santa Cruz, along the Tolago-Tetlapaya highway in the Lolotla district of Hidalgo, Mexico. Officers arriving at the scene found the priest had sustained several gunshot wounds and showed no vital signs.

Authorities found a burgundy Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck with Baja California license plates near the site. They also recovered a cardboard sign containing what appeared to be an intimidating message, though officials have not released the contents of the sign or identified a motive for the killing.

The Mexican Bishops’ Conference issued a statement expressing solidarity with Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of Huejutla, local priests, and the diocesan community. The statement, signed by Bishop Ramón Castro Castro and Auxiliary Bishop Héctor M. Pérez Villarreal, called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to clarify the circumstances of the murder.