Mexico’s Catholic Church is calling on the country’s cartels to observe a national truce during its most important festival, the celebration of the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, on December 12. The Church hopes this gesture might mark the beginning of a path to peace in the country.

Thousands of the faithful, many of whom come from impoverished, violence-ravaged communities in Chiapas or Guerrero, are joining the plea as they make the pilgrimage to the country’s most sacred site, the Basilica de Guadalupe.

However, the reality remains grim, as the Church has struggled to protect even its own priests, who are working to bring peace to their communities. Over the past 15 years, Mexico has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world for clergy.

Agencies.