Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who’s in Mexico as part of a multi-day official visit that began on Tuesday, presided a Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where he called for prayers for missing persons and “searching mothers.”
After reading a few passages from the Bible regarding the miracles of the Virgin Mary and concern for one’s neighbor, Pietro spoke of the arduous search undertaken by mothers with a missing loved one.
En Palacio Nacional, recibí al secretario de Estado del Vaticano, Pietro Parolin; abordamos temas como la primera encíclica del papa León XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, donde plantea que el desarrollo de la inteligencia artificial debe estar guiado por criterios éticos, dignidad… pic.twitter.com/HU7yc9S9Zp
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) August 5, 2026
“Their example resonates with particular force here in Mexico, where so many mothers continue to search for their missing children with steadfastness and faith,” he said, calling upon the faithful to support them with solidarity and prayer.
During his homily, Parolin noted that too many communities are “scarred by violence and aggression” and that a significant number of families have experienced the pain of loss. He urged that prayer be translated into concrete actions of solidarity with victims, migrants, and marginalized groups.
The Mass followed a one-hour meeting between Pietro and President Claudia Sheinbaum, during which both officials discussed the formal invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit Mexico.
Sheinbaum reiterated her invitation for the pope to visit the country at her Wednesday morning press conference, saying, “We’re going to insist on the visit of the pope to Mexico.”
The meeting also addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in light of Pope Leo XIV’s latest encyclical Dilexi Te.
“The Pope’s calls for peace, fraternity, and closeness to the most vulnerable represent a humanitarian vision—one that is indispensable at a time when the world needs to strengthen dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation among nations,” Sheinbaum wrote on her official X account along with a picture of the meeting.
The message of the pope’s emissary carries significant weight in Mexico, the country with the second-highest Catholic population in the world after Brazil. Nearly 80% of Mexico’s population (101.3 million people) identify as Roman Catholic.
Pietro’s statement comes as Mexico continues to confront a disappearance crisis, with over 132,000 people officially listed as missing or unaccounted for, and mothers and relatives often leading the search themselves.
With reports from El Universal and Vatican News
