Five bishops, 220 priests have died from Covid in Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico, May 12, 2021 / 11:01 am (CNA).

According to a May 11 report from the Catholic Multimedia Center eight women religious, six men religious, and 12 deacons have also died from the coronavirus in the country.

A total of 24 bishops have come down with COVID-19, with 19 making favorable progress and recovering from the disease. Five bishops in the older age bracket have publicly shared they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The diocese hardest hit has been the Archdiocese of Guadalajara with 24 priests dying from the virus, followed by the Archdiocese of Mexico with 21 priests and one of its auxiliary bishops, Francisco Daniel Rivera Sánchez.

According to the latest CMC report, the increase in deaths compared to its previous report was four priests, one male religious and one deacon. There were no new deaths of bishops or women religious.

The CMC noted that the decrease in cases among Catholics and the figures recorded by the Mexican government have made it possible to allow Masses with limited attendance, with a gradual increase.

Although no bishop has announced the end of the dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, the Archbishop of Guadalajara, Francisco  Cardinal Robles Ortega, has called on the faithful once again to participate in the Eucharist.

The Catholic Multimedia Catholic Center renewed its call for diocesan officials and parishioners who have solid information on COVID-19 cases in the Church to share this data with its Research Unit.