Funeral of Activist Priest Marcelo Pérez Draws Hundreds

SAN ANDRES LARRAINZAR, Mexico — A large turnout of around 2,000 individuals gathered on Tuesday to pay their respects at the funeral of Marcelo Pérez, a Catholic priest and advocate for Indigenous communities and agricultural workers who was tragically killed in Chiapas, a region in southern Mexico.

Mourners expressed their outrage and sorrow, loudly chanting “Justice for Marcelo” as they honored his life’s work. Throughout his career, Rev. Pérez dedicated himself to fostering tranquility in the highland and border areas of Chiapas, which have been marred by violent conflicts between rival drug cartels.

Following the incident, state prosecutors reported the arrest of a suspect believed to be involved in the priest’s murder, though details regarding the individual’s identity and potential motives have not been disclosed. Federal prosecutors later announced that they would take over the investigation, indicating a belief that organized crime played a role in Pérez’s death.

The funeral was held in his native San Andrés Larrainzar, where the priest was buried. As a member of the Tzotzil Indigenous community, he represented a minority of priests from Indigenous backgrounds in Chiapas. At the age of 50, Pérez had faced numerous threats but remained committed to his role as a peace advocate.

Human rights organizations highlighted that he had not received the protection from the government that was crucial for his safety. The Fray Bartolome de las Casas human rights center stated, “For years, we insisted that the Mexican government should address the threats and aggressions against him, but they never implemented measures to guarantee his life, security, and well-being.”

The details surrounding Pérez’s murder remain scarce, with President Claudia Sheinbaum confirming only that investigations are active. Activists believe that Pérez’s efforts to mediate peace may have drawn ire from local drug cartels.

Chiapas is a significant corridor for both drug trafficking and human smuggling. The rights center commented that “Father Marcelo Pérez was the subject of constant threats and aggressions on the part of organized crime groups,” noting that his death is part of a troubling rise in violence affecting the general population in Chiapas.

For the last couple of years, violent turf disputes between the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have escalated, often resulting in brutal consequences, including the murder of entire families and coercing residents into choosing sides. Many individuals from Chiapas have been forced to flee to Guatemala in search of safety.