In the twenty-second installment of the catecheses «Thy Kingdom Come,» the bishop of Cuernavaca and president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), Ramón Castro Castro, emphasized the urgency of a «kingdom of dialogue, openness, listening, and collaboration» in a Mexico deeply divided by political and social tensions. During his homily, broadcast on video and available on digital platforms, the prelate used biblical references to urge national reconciliation, implicitly criticizing the polarization exacerbated by social networks and ideological differences that break families and communities.
Bishop Castro, known for his active stance on social and political issues, recalled that the Kingdom of Christ is not imposed by force, but through love, truth, and justice, citing Pope Pius X from a century ago. In a context where Mexico faces challenges such as migration, violence, and inequality, the ecclesiastical leader highlighted how Jesus dialogued with the marginalized, including figures like the Samaritan woman, to offer «living water of truth» without prior judgments. Applying this to the current landscape, Castro identified «our own Samaritans» in the country: rejected migrants, youth affected by drugs, single mothers discriminated against, and, notably, «discredited politicians.»
«In our polarized Mexico, where social networks divide more than they unite, where political differences break families, we urgently need to remember how Jesus dialogued,» affirmed the bishop, underscoring the need to build bridges instead of destroying them. This call resonates at a time when the country is preparing for electoral processes and debates on constitutional reforms, where the division between political factions has intensified the discourse of confrontation. Castro advocated for a transformative dialogue that transcends cultural and social borders, similar to Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in the Acts of the Apostles, which led to conversion and inclusion.
The political emphasis became evident in criticizing the «parallel monologues» in Mexican society, promoting instead an active listening that addresses «the feelings and wounds of the other.» Following the example of Jesus, who listened before acting, the bishop invited reflection: «Am I truly listening or just waiting my turn to speak?» In this sense, he proposed that collaboration be the natural fruit of dialogue, citing the early Christian communities and Saint Francis of Assisi as models of humility and service.
Castro highlighted concrete examples in Mexico where these values are materialized with political undertones: collaborations between businesspeople and civil organizations, united churches in support of migrants, and reconciliation processes between victims and perpetrators. «In our country, polarized by social networks and political differences, authentic dialogue is a revolutionary act,» he declared, mentioning scenarios like families that gather at the table despite «voting differently,» or businesspeople and workers who negotiate fair solutions. These references allude directly to recent tensions in the labor and electoral spheres, where unions and employers have clashed amid government reforms.
The bishop also extended his message to interreligious collaboration and with people of other beliefs, affirming that the Kingdom of Christ «can embrace diversity without losing its identity.» In a prayerful closing, he invoked Jesus as «King of the Universe» to teach how to dialogue with humility and collaborate with joy, in order to make his kingdom visible in Mexico.