In Guerrero, one of Mexico’s most violent states, Bishop José de Jesus González is boldly living out his calling in the shadow of organized crime. Since arriving in the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa three years ago, the bishop has risked his life to shepherd a people caught between fear and faith.
His first brush with death came earlier in his ministry in Nayar, when gunmen opened fire on his van. “There were three of us in a van, and they shot at us. They aimed for our heads, not for the tires … But what is important is that they didn’t send us to sing in the heavenly choir,” he recalled. When the attackers realized he was a bishop, they asked for his blessing.
In Guerrero, Bishop González calls the situation a state “hijacked” by crime. Despite murders of priests and leaders, he insists, “If we are not brave, the people cry … and God weeps.” His ministry includes prayer, advocacy, and comfort for grieving families. “They want to feel part of the Church, protected.”
