Why today’s mañanera matters

In the 18 months since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, Mexico’s engagement with the wider world has increased.

While former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador limited his international travel, preferring to stay at home to focus on domestic issues, Sheinbaum has already visited six foreign countries as president and will touch down in a seventh — Spain — later this week.

On Monday morning, she held up Mexico’s foreign policy as a beacon for the world, and weighed in on a war of words between two of the world’s most prominent U.S. citizens — President Trump and Pope Leo XIV — while being careful not to explicitly criticize the leader of a country that is Mexico’s largest trade partner and foremost security collaborator.

Also of note at the first mañanera of the week was Sheinbaum’s declaration that protests won’t affect Mexico’s capacity to be a successful host of this year’s FIFA men’s World Cup, whose first match is now just over eight weeks away.

‘Mexico’s foreign policy is an example to the world’

Sheinbaum acknowledged that the United States and Iran held talks in Pakistan over the weekend, but lamented that they didn’t reach an agreement to bring a definitive end to their war.

“As you know, Mexico’s position is always what our constitution stands for. Mexico’s foreign policy is an example to the world,” she said.

“And we follow it to the letter of the law,” Sheinbaum said, explaining that her government is in favor of people’s right to self-determination, the principle of non-intervention and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“And that will always be our position,” she said.

Sheinbaum praises the Pope amid the pontiff’s spat with Trump

Asked about recent “exchanges” of points of view between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, Sheinbaum praised the position of the latter.

“The Pope has been constantly calling for peace, which is something that we praise,” she said.

“… It’s a very Christian position,” Sheinbaum added.

Trump took aim at Pope Leo in a social media post on Sunday, calling him “weak on crime,” “terrible for foreign policy” and “weak on nuclear weapons.”

On Monday, Pope Leo said he has “no fear of the Trump administration,” and declared that he believes “in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

Sheinbaum: Protests won’t affect the World Cup in Mexico 

A reporter noted that the start of the World Cup is just two months away, and said that “everything indicates” that protests by Mexico City metro workers, madres buscadoras (searching mothers) and other groups will intensify in the coming weeks.

He asked Sheinbaum whether the government is “working” with such groups to ensure that protests don’t affect the World Cup in Mexico, during which matches will be played in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

“There won’t be any problem at the World Cup, none,” the president responded.

“Now, Mexico is a free, democratic country,” she added.

“Regardless of international events, we guarantee the right to protest, the right to free speech,” Sheinbaum said.

“We’re always going to guarantee that,” she said, adding that the government attends to protesters and responds to “legitimate” demands.

Sheinbaum asserted that protests are not going to “intensify” in the lead-up to the World Cup, before noting that demonstrations have always occurred in Mexico.

The opening ceremony of the World Cup, and the first match (between Mexico and South Africa), will take place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.