The new bridge promises faster commutes for Cancún residents and tourists. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
The 11.2-kilometer-long Nichupté Vehicular Bridge — a critical infrastructure project connecting downtown Cancún and its bustling hotel zone — will open in December, four months later than expected.
The bridge’s elevated design protects the Nichupté Lagoon ecosystem. (Elizabeth Ruíz/Cuartoscuro)
José Antonio Esteva, minister of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), provided an update on the project during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Wednesday morning press conference.
Esteva said there are currently 714 workers and 123 machines operating at five active work sites. He also confirmed a budget overrun of nearly 2.9 billion pesos (US $145 million).
“We expect to spend 2.1 billion pesos (US $108 million) this year to complete the bridge,” Esteva said.
This will bring the total cost of the bridge to 8.6 billion pesos (US $440.5 million). Construction company ICA originally budgeted 5.6 billion pesos (US $286 million) for the project.
The 14.9-km-long project features an 8.8 km, three-lane span over the Nichupté Lagoon and will benefit 1.3 million residents as well as the millions of tourists who visit the Caribbean resort.
Most of the bridge will be elevated above the lagoon on stilts. It will also feature a 103-meter metal suspension bridge section.
Sheinbaum visited the site with Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama and ICA CEO Guadalupe Phillips in April. At the time, with the bridge 78% completed, Sheinbaum said it would be operational by November.
Nichupté Lagoon’s natural beauty draws kayakers and nature lovers — even as major infrastructure like the new bridge takes shape nearby. (Greenpeace/Cuartoscuro)
Additional delays were caused by the addition of a metal arch section to provide extra support, upgrades to storm drainage systems to prevent lagoon contamination, and the installation of an Intelligent Transportation System to manage traffic flow more efficiently.
Once operational, the bridge’s direct, elevated route over the Nichupté Lagoon will ease the burden on current roads and sharply reduce travel times for residents heading to work and tourists heading to resorts or nearby attractions.
While the role of Energy Minister might not seem alluring, Luz Elena González has control of much of Mexico's financial future. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Luz Elena González Escobar, Mexico’s energy minister, has quickly emerged as a key figure in the nation’s economic and energy policy, leveraging decades of experience in finance and urban planning.
Before being appointed to the federal government, González served as Mexico City’s finance minister under then-Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. She now holds significant sway as chair of the boards of both Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), making her one of the most powerful voices in the cabinet.
In February, González unveiled the National Electric System Strengthening and Expansion Plan 2025-2030, which allocates US $32.7 billion to modernize and expand the country’s power grid. The goal, she said, is to “ensure that no productive process or investment will be delayed due to a lack of energy.”
Internationally, González has prioritized energy diplomacy, particularly with the United States. In March, she met with U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright at CERAWeek in Houston. The meeting led to agreements on continued cooperation, increased investment in petroleum and natural gas, and streamlined engagement for U.S. companies seeking to invest in Mexico.
Framing energy as “an enabler of development,” González has pledged to cut red tape and facilitate investment. As Mexico faces mounting pressure to modernize infrastructure while transitioning to cleaner energy, her leadership will be central to balancing sovereignty, private capital, and global collaboration.
Whether Mexico can deliver on these promises remains to be seen — but the stakes for its economy are high. Mexico News Daily’s María Meléndez explains what you need to know about another low-profile but high-power government figure.
Sheinbaum plans to work with Mexican banks to improve small business credit access. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed an agreement with the Mexican Banking Association to boost credit access for small businesses, which she called a critical factor in stimulating economic growth.
The president announced the accord during her keynote address at the 88th National Banking Convention, which began Thursday in Nayarit. The agreement aims to facilitate access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, known in Mexico by the acronym Mipymes.
En la #88ConvencionBancaria, la presidenta @Claudiashein exhortó a la banca a comprometerse con el desarrollo mediante el financiamiento a las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas. Mientras en países como Japón el crédito representa el 193% del PIB, en México apenas alcanza el… pic.twitter.com/V3EZfdzuVG
— Nora Ruvalcaba Gámez (@Nora_Ruvalcaba) May 9, 2025
The federal government and commercial banks will commit to increasing credit for small businesses by 3.5% annually over the next five years. Development banks, in cooperation with the Finance Ministry, will also be called upon to lower interest rates.
The objective, Sheinbaum said, is that by the time she leaves office in 2030, at least 30% of all small businesses have some kind of financing.
During her Friday morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that in addition to lower interest rates, credit application procedures will be simplified. She also said that although a timeline to implement the agreement has not been established, the two sides are working to create the conditions to do so in the short term.
In her address to the bankers, the president painted a positive picture of Mexico’s economic panorama before identifying the lack of access to credit as a significant problem in the banking sector.
Sheinbaum cited World Bank data indicating that credit to non-financial companies and to households is far too meager in Mexico. Compared to other nations surveyed, Mexico ranked second to last in terms of non-financial companies’ access to credit, while credit access for households ranked third to last.
Credit reaches only 33% of the population, she said, adding that financing for small and medium-sized businesses is essential for fostering economic growth.
Sheinbaum said the primary goal “must be greater access to credit if we want not only growth but fundamental well-being for Mexicans.”
The president set the stage for the credit agreement during her April 15 press conference when she urged banks to lower interest rates for small businesses. She noted that although the central bank has lowered interbank rates, small businesses still find it “very complicated” to get credit.
Small businesses like this neighborhood bar could benefit under Sheinbaum’s credit expansion plan. (Roman Lezhnin/Unsplash)
Sheinbaum opened her speech by saying all Mexicans should be “grateful” and “satisfied” with the country’s solid economic footing.
Mexico registered quarterly growth of 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025 and a yearly increase of 0.8% compared to Q1 2024. At the same time, the Economy Ministry has amassed an investment portfolio of US $298 billion, she said, showcasing the confidence investors have in the country.
Sheinbaum preached optimism, saying that in the face of external challenges, the economy “has responded extraordinarily.” Not a single company has retreated from investment plans despite tensions caused by tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump, she said.
The president did not mention the 1995 bank bailout known as Fobaproa, which she recently called “a scam.”
The topic arose as part of a public spat with former President Ernesto Zedillo, who slammed Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for “steering the country back toward authoritarian rule.”
Sheinbaum responded by saying the bank bailout benefited Zedillo and the wealthy few while bankrupting millions of ordinary Mexicans.
The study found that captive-bred axolotls can survive and thrive in the wild. (Unsplash)
Axolotls, the oh-so-cute but critically endangered salamanders endemic to the canals of southern Mexico City, can successfully adapt to wild habitats after being bred in captivity, according to a new study.
Axolotl are native to Xochimilco canals, where farmers have cultivated crops on chinampas (floating gardens) since before the Spanish Conquest. (Sedema CDMX)
As noted by the study’s lead author, Alejandra Ramos, in an interview on NPR’s “All Things Considered” this week, researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Conservation International released nine male and nine female axolotls into the wild.
Two sites in southern Mexico City were chosen: restored wetlands in Lake Xochimilco, the species’ last natural stronghold, and La Cantera Oriente, a semi-natural/artificial wetlands in the Ecological Reserve of San Ángel.
Harnessed with tiny, high-frequency trackers, the amphibians — whose image has been on the back of 50-peso bills since late 2021, having replaced the Morelia aqueduct and monarch butterflies — were monitored for 40 days, with all individuals surviving the duration and three recaptured specimens showing weight gain, indicating successful foraging.
The axolotls displayed distinct movement patterns, with those in Xochimilco covering larger territories (2,747 square meters) compared to La Cantera (382 square meters).
If captive-bred axolotls can adapt in the wild, their species has a much better chance of surviving. (Depositphotos/Archive)
Overall, females traveled farther on a daily basis — 86.75 meters versus males’ 54.33 meters — while older axolotls moved shorter distances, possibly due to territory selection.
“If they had been skinny or ill, that would have been really bad for us,” said Ramos, a biologist at the Autonomous University of Baja California, underscoring the health of recaptured individuals.
Despite these successes, predatory birds emerged as a critical challenge. Great egrets were observed preying on two axolotls in Xochimilco, prompting calls for pre-release predator awareness training to improve survival rates.
“High mortality due to predation is a major cause of failure in reintroduction programs,” the study noted, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies.
The study also highlighted the potential of human-made wetlands like La Cantera as complementary habitats.
Axolotls, revered in Aztec mythology and valued for their regenerative abilities as well as their cuteness, have seen wild populations drop by over 80% since 2006 due to sewage contamination and agricultural runoff.
Restoration of Xochimilco’s chinampas — human-made Aztec agricultural islands that created networks of canals — has become a focal point, with the study’s authors advocating for expanded habitat rehabilitation.
Together, the museum (in southern Mexico City’s Tarango Ecological Park) and RappiCard (a product originally offered by the food-delivery app Rappi and now owned by Banorte) have launched a documentary, “Axolotitlán: Encuentros de resiliencia y regeneración” (“Land of the Axolotl: Encounters of Resilience and Regeneration”) and a new debit card to fund conservation.
Insurgentes Avenue is Mexico City's most transcendent artery, taking in swathes of the city as it works from north to south. (Overview MX)
On a recent Metrobus ride up Insurgentes Avenue, I was struck by how dramatically the scenery shifted from block to block. It felt as if I were passing through a series of distinct cities, each with its own character.
In many ways, I was: Mexico City’s sprawling nature creates a mosaic of enclaves, and it makes sense that the capital’s longest avenue (and one of the longest in the world) would cut through so many of them. At 28.8 kilometers (18 miles), Insurgentes is both the city’s most prominent north-south corridor and its backbone for public transportation. Its story is just as interesting.
Ancient origins and historical development
Insurgentes passes through some of Mexico City’s earliest settled areas, dating back to the Mexica. (Wikimedia Commons)
Avenida Insurgentes traces its roots to the Mexica (Aztec) era, as it passes through what was once Lake Texcoco and by the chinampas of Xochimilco. After the Spanish drained Lake Texcoco to prevent flooding, the original rural areas evolved into more modern corridors. Key segments of these colonial networks, such as Camino Nuevo a San Cosme (Santa María la Ribera), Avenida Veracruz (Roma) and Vía del Centenario (San Ángel), were eventually swallowed up by today’s Insurgentes.
The thoroughfare as we currently know it was completed in 1953, named for the insurgent army that fought for Mexican independence starting in 1810.
Beyond building construction, Alemán modernized the country’s highway system by commissioning new roads and bridges to support a rapidly growing population. Under his administration, the Mexico City airport was upgraded, further improving international connectivity.
With the 1968 Olympics came another wave of urbanization: the Metro was built, massive stadiums rose and major infrastructure in the city got a facelift. This included Insurgentes and the southern stretch of the avenue was widened and expanded to connect new sports venues like the University Olympic Stadium.
Public art sculptures were also added to Insurgentes at this time, for visual impact. A few remain to this day, including Señales” (Signals) by Ángela Gurría’ and “El Ancla” (The Anchor) by Willi Gutmann.
Insurgentes is also home to the city’s first Metrobús line, inaugurated in 2005. Chosen for its high passenger demand and strategic position, the Metrobús replaced hundreds of conventional buses with efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles, now serving over 250,000 passengers each day.
Avenida Insurgentes’ geographical reach
The towers of central Mexico City straddle the northern section of the avenue. (Expedia)
Traversing a remarkable cross-section of Mexico City, Avenida Insurgentes begins in the northern section of Residencial Acueducto de Guadalupe and crosses through the following neighborhoods:
Lindavista
Guadalupe Insurgentes
Tlatelolco
Santa María la Ribera
Buenavista
Tabacalera
San Rafael
Cuauhtémoc
Juárez
Roma
Condesa
Del Valle
Nápoles
San Ángel
Pedregal
The thoroughfare culminates in southern Tlalpan at the Monumento al Caminero. There are, as one might expect, a healthy handful of notable landmarks to see along the way. Should you travel the entire length of the avenue, you’d encounter several showstoppers, including two world records.
Notable landmarks and historical monuments
Starting with the recognizable Plaza de Toros México, located in Ciudad de los Deportes, is said to be the largest, and perhaps one of the most controversial, bullrings in the world. Continuing south to Nápoles, you won’t miss the World Trade Center Mexico City, one of the city’s tallest and most recognizable skyscrapers. A short distance from here is the striking Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros and its famous mural, “La Marcha de la Humanidad.” The bold masterpiece is widely regarded as the world’s largest, thanks to Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Starting in the mid-1960s, his painting project eventually covered every interior wall and ceiling of the Polyforum’s Universal Forum, which spans over 8,000 square meters.
Further south in Extremaduras is Parque Hundido. Established in the 1930s, the park is famous for its sunken gardens and a brightly-colored floral clock. If you continue on a southern trajectory, you’ll come to the prominent facade of the Ollin Yoliztli Cultural Center, located in Isidro Fabela and known to be one of the city’s leading performing arts and educational centers. Finally, you’ll reach UNAM’s Ciudad Universitaria – both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the main campus of Mexico’s National Autonomous University.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed UNAM campus sits on the southern edge of Insurgentes. (Gomnrz/Wikimedia)
Modern cultural and urban significance
Avenida de los Insurgentes is a symbol of Mexico City’s growth, modernization and cultural dynamism. Its name commemorates the struggle for independence, and its development reflects the city’s transformation from a patchwork of country paths to one of the largest modern metropolises in the world. The avenue has witnessed major historical events, urban planning milestones and the daily life of millions of residents walking, cycling and riding to their next destination.
Unfortunately, like any major avenue, Insurgentes faces its challenges. Severe traffic congestion is an issue, with chronic traffic jams and slow travel speeds, especially during a rush hour that seemingly never ends. Despite public transportation improvements, congestion has only increased in recent years, leaving city developers scrambling to improve Insurgentes’ infrastructure. Moreover, many of its Metrobús stations and sidewalks show signs of critical wear and tear.
There are signs of improvement, and in September 2024, a major rehabilitation project revitalized the Glorieta de Insurgentes roundabout, one of the busiest transit hubs in the city. Workers added new LED lighting, expanded green spaces, removed graffiti and constructed a tourist police station.
Further upgrades are planned, including the construction of the 237-unit Skytown Insurgentes residential building near Paseo de la Reforma, though additional improvements may be paused as the city prepares for the FIFA World Cup.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
This coming weekend, Mexico honors the beloved bonds of motherhood with the Día de Las Madres holiday on May 10. (Dragen Zigic/Shutterstock)
This Saturday, May 10, is Mother’s Day in Mexico, or Día de las Madres. This Mexican holiday, on a different date than Mother’s Day elsewhere, gives us the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on the admirable role of our beloved mamitas.
If your family doesn’t have plans to go out, how about celebrating Mother’s Day by streaming a marathon of Mexican movies or series that openly address the importance of motherhood and undoubtedly conquer the heart of your household’s matriarch on her special day? Finding stuff to stream on Día de Las Madres can also be a way to remember and honor the mother who’s no longer with us.
In this selection, we have included great titles to showcase the best of Mom, in a joyful and uplifting way, highlighting her commitment and sacrifices for her family and the protection Moms give their children.
From emotionally mature comedies to family dramas, these Mexican productions offer an insightful look at the positive and challenging aspects of being a mother in Mexico, perfect for streaming on Día de Las Madres. More importantly, these fictional women of the small and big screen prove that one can be a successful mother without being perfect.
Get the family together this Mother’s Day in front of the TV and celebrate your mamá!
We begin our Mother’s Day selections with “Las Horas Contigo” (The Hours With You), the debut feature by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, produced by Roberto Sneider. This film tells the story of three generations of multifaceted women who, faced with a family crisis, try to resolve their complex history.
The plot revolves around young Ema (Casandra Cianguerotti), her mother, Julieta (María Rojo), and her grandmother, María (Isela Vega), who are forced to manage their intricate unfinished business. At the center of it all is the serious health situation faced by María, the family’s aging matriarch. Ema must reconsider the troubled relationship with her mother, Julieta, who was sadly absent for much of her childhood.
Both mother and daughter choose to address their past problems and give themselves a new chance. Along the way, and with the renewed support of her mother, Ema begins to reconsider her reluctance towards motherhood.
“Las Horas Contigo” addresses themes of identity, motherhood, family legacy and the complexity of human relationships. Although the script at times approaches the soap opera genre, the director achieves a subtly sentimental tone that avoids falling into the outright cloying.
If you’re interested in a Día de Las Madres watch that will simultaneously make you laugh and thrill you, allow us to introduce to you to a new obsession: “Madre Solo Hay Dos” (Daughter from Another Mother), a 2021 Mexican television series about two mothers who join forces when their babies are accidentally switched at birth.
Written by Carolina Rivera and Fernando Sariñana, the first season features two mothers with diametrically opposed philosophies and lives: Ana Servín (Ludwika Paleta), a successful and controlling professional, and Mariana Herrera (Paulina Goto), a carefree college student.
Problems arise when — four months after their children’s births in the same clinic — the women discover that their newborns were mistakenly switched. Of course, the doctors announce that the next step is a new exchange.
However, this proves an insurmountable challenge as both mothers have already bonded with the daughter they’ve been raising as their own. So, to avoid more chaos, Ana and Mariana agree to live together and start an atypical family.
Netflix’s Madre Solo Hay Dos is endless entertainment. Its witty scripts never shy away from tackling tough questions about the everyday challenges of motherhood and unexpected family structures. With three lighthearted seasons, Madre Solo Hay Dos is perfect to introduce to your mother on her day.
Recently premiered on Prime Video, the series Valiendo Madres is filled with countless perfect moments of complicated and poignant motherhood for a Mother’s Day watch. Inspired by the hit Argentine novel What’s Up, Mamis, by author Erika Halvorsen (El Hilo Rojo), it tells the story of a group of young mothers who become embroiled in unexpected entanglements following the appearance of a sex toy, a possible infidelity and a family camping trip.
This story begins when Paloma (Marcela Guirado) discovers a dildo in her house and, shortly afterward, receives a series of messages that hint at a possible infidelity by her husband, Federico (José María de Tavira). From that moment on, and in the middle of the parent-child camping trip, Paloma sets out to investigate possible adultery while lovingly caring for her son. A group of mamitas joins Paloma in a gesture of feminine solidarity to help her in her crusade.
Beyond the romantic entanglements, Valiendo Madres delves into the challenges and expectations associated with motherhood, the complexities of life as a couple and the importance of female friendship in adulthood. Over the course of seven episodes, this comedy will make you laugh out loud and think at the same time.
“Mamá Reinventada,” directed by Bonnie Cartas and Joaquin Russek, tells the story of a widow who, after experiencing a prolonged period of sadness and isolation, decides to face a new chapter in her life. This family comedy is fresh out of the oven and making its theatrical debut, so it makes for a brand-new stream for this Mother’s Day.
After the death of her father, Marina (Michelle Renaud), a talented content creator, decides to move her mother, Patricia (Erika Buenfil), into her home, along with her mom’s crazy roomie (Nicolasa Ortiz Monasterio).
What begins as an attempt at family reconnection leads to a significant change in their lives: Mother and daughter revamp their relationship and their individual longings. After drawing up a bucket list of goals, Patricia, accompanied by her daughter, decides to venture fully into the world and its challenges.
“Mamá Reinventada” underscores the power of resilience, the importance of second chances and the value of motherhood, making it a great viewing for this Día de Las Madres.
Carolina Alvarado is a Venezuelan journalist and has devoted much of her career to creative writing, university teaching and social work. She has been published in Lady Science, Latina Media, Global Comment, Psiquide, Cinetopic, Get me Giddy and Reader’s Digest, among others.
A mother and daughter enjoy a Mother's Day event in Mexico City in 2023. In Mexico, Mother's Day is celebrated May 10. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
By the end of the month, Mexicans will send millions of remittance payments home from the U.S., likely more than any other month this year. May is usually the month with the highest volume of remittances, even beating out December and the Christmas holidays, possibly due to the “Mother’s Day effect.”
A recent survey of 58 users of Zapp, a platform to send money via WhatsApp particularly targeting Mexican immigrants in the United States, revealed that about 67% of respondents make a special transfer to their mother on May 10, the day when Mother’s Day is celebrated in Mexico.
Zapp reported that, on average, users send $360 USD to their mothers on this day.
Meanwhile, Zapp’s survey found that 79% of respondents send money directly to their mothers, while the rest do so through other relatives including sisters (30%), children (30%), or deliver it in person (10%). About 31% said they send money so that they can spend it however they wish. Others say it’s for medicine (19%), food (13%), or simply to buy something nice (15%).
Between 2019 and 2023, the month of May saw 6.5% more remittances than the adjacent months of April and June, possibly explained by the Mother’s Day effect.
Survey participants cited a variety of reasons for sending money home to mom on Mother’s Day. (Zepp)
In May 2024, Mexico recorded 14.8 million remittance transactions, representing a 1.4% annual increase — its highest level ever. BBVA’s report suggests that the reduction in remittance costs observed in recent decades and a gradual increase in digital remittances through financial applications may be some of the factors driving this growth in transaction volume. Yet, the average remittance amount in 2024 was US $381, down 2.3% compared to the same month of 2023.
BBVA remittance specialists have also found that over the past 20 years, remittance transfers received during May have increased by an average of 14% compared to the rest of the year. In May 2020, remittances peaked by 18% attributed to concerns about Mexico’s health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another survey by Visa showed that 42% of Mexican migrants who send remittances to the country do so electronically. The report dubbed “The Money Journey: Adopting Digital Remittances in 2024,” noted that seven out of 10 users of these digital money transfer platforms consider them to be a faster and more efficient payment method than traditional channels.
Mexican leaders and Catholics from all walks of life hailed the election of the next leader of the Catholic Church. (Vatican)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has extended her congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, who on Thursday became the global leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“We congratulate his holiness Leo XIV, elected by the College of Cardinals as the head of state of Vatican City and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. I confirm our humanist alignment in favor of peace and prosperity in the world,” she wrote on social media.
Felicitamos a su santidad León XIV, electo por el Colegio Cardenalicio como jefe del Estado de la Ciudad del Vaticano y líder espiritual de la Iglesia católica. Ratifico nuestra convergencia humanista a favor de la paz y la prosperidad del mundo.
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) May 8, 2025
Mexican church bells ring in recognition of election of new pope
The bells of the Metropolitan Cathedral in the historic center of Mexico City and the Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe in the north of the capital were among those that rang after the election of Pope Leo XIV.
“We hope he has a great papacy, that the Holy Spirit guides him and accompanies him during his entire pontificate,” Orlando Pureco, a seminarian, told Telemundo at the Basilica in Mexico City.
Odilia García, a Catholic who was at the Basilica in Mexico City on Thursday, told UNO TV that she hoped that the new pope would “identify” with young people and encourage them to attend church.
“I found out that he’s from Chicago, we don’t know him, but we hope that God … enlightens him in order to do things well,” she said.
Archbishop of Mexico City Carlos Aguiar Retes, center right, was among the cardinals present at the conclave to select the new pope. (María Langarica/Archdiocese of Mexico City)
“We just heard his message and he speaks Spanish very well,” said Jorge, another Mexican Catholic.
“I believes he knows the Latin American mentality and the problem of migration, which I believe will be one of the issues to deal with,” he told Info7.
Mexican Episcopal Conference and Archdiocese of Mexico celebrate election of the new pope
The Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), the official leadership body of the Catholic Church in Mexico, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico, both released statements celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV.
“With great happiness we have received the news that after the fourth session of voting of the elector cardinals, the Cardinal Robert Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, has been elected Pope and will take the name Leo XIV, becoming the 267th successor of [St.] Peter,” the CEM said.
“… We invite all the pilgrim people of God in Mexico to offer prayers for the Holy Father and to be happy for the commencement of his papacy,” it said.
In its statement, the Archdiocese of Mexico said it received the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV with “profound happiness.”
En estos momentos en la Basílica de Guadalupe se está llevando a cabo Te Deum por el nombramiento del Nuevo Papa Robert Francis Prevost, León XIV. pic.twitter.com/xxcCYdDr63
“… In the name of our Archbishop, his eminence Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, and of this particular church, we express our profound communion with the new Bishop of Rome,” the Mexico City-based archdiocese said.
“Pope Leo XIV, you are not alone, count on us,” it added.
Prominent Mexicans react to the election of the new pope
In addition to President Sheinbaum, a number of other well-known Mexicans reacted to the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez
“From Mexico we salute with respect the appointment of the Cardinal Robert Prevost as leader of the Catholic Church in the world. Your message of peace, your missionary history and your assumption as Leo XIV gives us hope.”
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada
“With great happiness I greet and congratulate Pope Leo XIV on the commencement of your papacy! From Mexico City we celebrate the beginning of a new papacy with hope and profound respect for your spiritual and political character. May your leadership be guided by compassion, dialogue and the commitment to social justice that so inspired your predecessor.”
Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega
“We rejoice with the whole Church, in the hope that the election of Pope Leo XIV brings us. He will confirm us in the faith as the Vicar of Christ and the successor of the Apostle Peter. We commend him to God so that He may enlighten him with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and so that he may be a faithful witness in the delicate task the Lord has entrusted to him.”
Nuevo León Governor Samuel García
The governor of Nuevo León pointed out that the new pope shares his name with the northern border state he governs.
“EL NUEVO LEÓN XIV, [The new Leo XIV],” he wrote on social media above a video of the pope speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Security forces worked overnight Wednesday to clear cartel blockades and restore order on Sinaloa’s main highways. (José Betanzos Zárete/Cuartoscuro)
The Pacific coast state of Sinaloa experienced another outburst of violence overnight Wednesday as an eight-month long civil war between rival cartel factions spilled onto the highways around the state capital, Culiacán.
Police and National Guard units responded to reports of highway blockades and shoot-outs between civilians that left the region on edge through Thursday morning.
8 months of a Sinaloa Cartel Civil War and the state has some of it’s worst fighting yet. The toll of death and disappearances has reached the thousands. Economic damage is huge. Shame the world doesn’t care much. https://t.co/Ev6wUqnHsB
The focus of the narco-blockades was Highway 15, which connects Culiacán with Los Mochis to the north and Mazatlán to the south.
The Sinaloa Security Ministry (SSP) said that federal, state and local authorities had removed seven separateroadblocks consisting of vehicles, several of which had been set ablaze. There were no reports of arrests or injuries.
Blockades were initially reported north of Culiacán within a four-kilometer stretch of Highway 15 near a cluster of motels. A tractor-trailer, a cargo truck and a pick-up truck were set on fire in a high-traffic area on the northern outskirts of the capital.
National Guard units responded, working from 1 a.m. through 5 a.m. to restore order and clear the roads.
Local residents reported hearing gunfire and videos circulating on social media appeared to show armed men departing the scene in pick-up trucks. State officials also confirmed that drones were sighted near at least one of the blockades, though it was not clear if they belonged to security personnel or the crime gangs involved.
On Tuesday morning, a blockade near Elota — about halfway between Culiacán and Mazatlán — snarled traffic on Highway 15 for several hours.
Saturday night saw multiple blockades in and around Mazatlán. Armed men forced truckers to abandon their vehicles, used them to block several highways and then set them on fire. Dozens of vehicles were also used to block the highway to Culiacán.
The recent surge in violence comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to combat crime and restore order in the region.
The infighting was stirred up by a long-running feud that intensified after the arrest in the U.S. of two rival drug kingpins, one of whom claimed he was kidnapped and flown to New Mexico by the other, who turned himself in to U.S. authorities.
Over 6 million foreign tourist visited Mexico in the first quarter of the year, a significant increase over 2024. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico registered a 3.5% increase in foreign visitors arriving by air during the first three months of the year, with U.S. arrivals leading the way.
The Tourism Ministry reported that more than 6.1 million foreign tourists arrived at Mexican airports during the first quarter, with more than 3.9 million holding U.S. passports. Canadians were next, with just over 1.2 million visitors. Argentinians were third on the list with 114,719.
Among the millions of foreign visitors to Mexico, some find time to relax on Cancún’s famous beaches. (Elizbeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez said the Q1 data demonstrates the importance of the economic relationship among the three North American countries, adding that it is critical that Mexico “broadens, maintains and strengthens” ties with the U.S. and Canada.
In that vein, Rodríguez touted Mexico’s first tourism office in the country’s consulate in San Diego. The current exhibit there features tourist attractions in the state of Oaxaca.
Compared to Q1 2024 when 5.25 million U.S. tourists flew into Mexico, air arrivals by U.S. visitors during the first three months this year increased by 5.1%. At the same time, 13% more Canadians flew to Mexico during Q1 2025 than in the same period last year. Argentine arrivals increased by 32.5% over Q1 2024.
Air arrivals by U.S. citizens in Q1 2025 were nearly 35% higher than in Q1 2019, while combined U.S., Canadian and Argentine arrivals this year were 28.6% better than during Q1 2019, Rodríguez said.
