Mexican Church holds colloquium on Cristero War

The Mexican Church is holding a colloquium in Mexico City to examine the history of the Cristero War, a religious conflict that began 100 years ago. The event, titled "One Hundred Years Since the Start of the Cristero Resistance," runs from October 14 to October 16.

Bishop Héctor Mario Pérez Villarreal, secretary general of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Mexico, said the gathering seeks to understand a history he described as being erased from Mexican history books. He noted that the Church intends to commemorate the faith of the people rather than celebrate the violence of the war.

The conflict began in 1926 when Catholics took up arms against civil authorities following the implementation of the Calles Law, which restricted religious expression. Bishop Pérez Villarreal stated that during the first half of the 20th century, Mexican Catholics faced laws that violated their fundamental rights to religious freedom and expression. He highlighted that the resistance was driven primarily by the laity defending their ability to practice their beliefs.