Wake of the Jesuit priests, June 21, 2022. | Photo: Twitter/ @Pajaropolitico

Mexico City, July 22 (RHC)-- The Society of Jesus in Mexico has published a statement demanding justice for priests Javier Campos and Joaquin Mora, who were murdered on June 20 in Cerocahui, Chihuahua.

"If impunity prevails as it has up to now, it will not be possible to move towards reconciliation and peace," the Society of Jesus stated.  "It is a priority to guarantee the rights of the Raramuri communities and reverse the structural causes of violence in the Sierra."

"Given the absence of a state in the region, it is essential that the federal forces remain provisionally present, maintaining the appropriate protocols to interact with indigenous cultures and ensuring unrestricted respect for human rights," it added.

Last month, the Jesuit priests Campos and Mora were assassinated inside the church of the San Francisco Javier parish. They tried to defend the tourist guide Pedro Palma, who was being chased by an armed person and was seeking refuge in the temple.

Despite the pleas of another priest who survived the events, the gunman and his accomplices loaded the three bodies into a van and took them away.  In the early hours of June 21st, the Society of Jesus reported on the murders after making sure that other priests were not in danger because it was feared that the criminals would carry out reprisals.