Father Román de la Cruz Hernández, a 48-year-old priest and parish pastor in central Mexico, was found assassinated on the side of a highway in the state of Hidalgo, according to reports from the Vatican agency Fides and Vatican News. The violent death of the clergyman has generated widespread shock throughout the Mexican religious community, prompting urgent demands from church leadership for a swift and thorough criminal investigation.
Discovery of the Body in Hidalgo
According to Vatican Fides, the body of Father de la Cruz Hernández was discovered abandoned beside the Tolago-Tetlapaya highway. This location sits along the boundaries of the Lolotla and Tlanchinol municipalities within the state of Hidalgo, situated in central Mexico. Born on July 28, 1978, in Mazahuacán—located inside the municipality of Lolotla—the 48-year-old cleric had deep roots in the region. He received his ordination to the priesthood on December 18, 2006. Prior to his death, he served as the coordinator for the Commission for the Pastoral Profética within the diocese of Huejutla and took office in September 2024 as the first diocesan pastor of the Santa Cruz community in Huejutla de Reyes, located in the Huasteca region.
Church Leadership Demands Exhaustive Investigation
Following the killing, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) released a formal statement expressing solidarity with Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of Huejutla, along with local priests, consecrated religious members, and the wider Catholic community. The episcopal body issued a direct appeal for “an exhaustive investigation that allows these facts to be clarified and justice to be done promptly,” as reported by Vatican News. Bishop Acosta Beltrán separately urged local churchgoers to avoid speculation so authorities can properly conduct their inquiry and report on the tragedy. The bishop characterized the broader security situation in the country as alarming, emphasizing the urgent need for competent authorities to prevent this murder and other regional crimes from ending in impunity.
Did You Know? Father Román de la Cruz Hernández served as the first diocesan pastor of the Santa Cruz community in Huejutla de Reyes, a role he stepped into in September 2024 shortly before his death.
What May Happen Next in the Case
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Father Román de la Cruz Hernández?
He was a 48-year-old priest born in Mazahuacán, Hidalgo, who served as the pastor of Santa Cruz, a priest of the diocese of Huejutla, and the coordinator for the Commission for the Pastoral Profética.
Where was the priest found?
His body was discovered abandoned alongside the Tolago-Tetlapaya highway on the borders of the Lolotla and Tlanchinol municipalities in Hidalgo, Mexico.
What is the position of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference?
The CEM issued a statement demanding that the relevant authorities conduct a thorough investigation to clarify the facts and deliver prompt justice.
How will local church leadership respond to ongoing developments in this investigation?