"Jesus told us not to hate those who think differently from us or do us harm. We must persevere, faithful to our faith and await the moment when "truth will set us free", as the Gospel says. It is not the best moment for Veracruz but we Christians must try to build a state that smiles, even with the resources that come from ancient civilizations."

"As government and as Mexicans, we must create new sources of work, look beyond the United States, make agreements with other countries as well. Mexico is a country rich in resources and workmanship, we must promote this and not depend on what Trump says""

"Although civil authorities do not have all the answers and all resources or a magic wand to resolve the situation, it is a duty of all citizens. I think we are all called to work for peace."

"All citizens have the right and at the same time, the duty to cast their free vote to promote the common good. The Church praises and inspires the work of those who, in the service of mankind, devote themselves to the public good and accept the burdens of office. Christians are prepared to exercise this duty in a responsible way. They have objective reasons for exercising their free and thoughtful vote."

"The precautions that we freely take are a way of manifesting the love we have for others, in order to protect their health and ours, and thus we fulfill the will of the Lord."

"It is true protests are useful but we too must make proposals. Certainly the problems are many, but besides protests we need proposals. I call on our young people, always full of initiative, to convince the rest of society to unite and work together to restore peace at last … It is not right to leave everything to the authorities, every sector must make its contribution according to its possibilities, only in this way will peace return"

"Music can carry a positive message because its universal language can fortify social fabric. This is why we should support the initiative aimed a seeking the best for our young people."

"Wealth has an irresistible power, and when a human being enters into the dynamic of gaining more and living better, money replaces the providence of God and demands absolute submission. The heart of the individual trapped by money hardens, he tends to seek only his own interests, he doesn't think of the suffering and needs of others…there is no place for solidarity nor for a God who is a merciful Father and compassionate with all his children."

"We wish to foster serious and respectful dialogue to offer enlightenment at a time when society needs to hear voices calling for harmonious co-existence, a culture of legality, civil participation and united efforts to make Mexico a more just and fraternal nation where the rule of law is a guarantee for all citizens to exercise their human rights and fulfil their obligations."

"In our national context, Holy Mary of Guadalupe is a fundamental force for national unity, and devotion to her is now totally independent of the Mexican state. She has contributed to cementing a national Catholic identity, because all Mexicans are in some way Guadalupans."

"May fallen-away Catholics return to the house of their mother, who awaits them with an open heart! We are sad that you have gone away. If it was our fault, we ask for forgiveness. We do not want to be like the older son in the parable, who was filled with scorn. We are brothers and God wants us to be together."

"I pray to the Spirit, not vaingloriously with this title, as titles aren't the most important in life, but the fraternal service of love. What is decisive, what makes us worth more, is to love God and our neighbor."

"There are different cultures, different ways of thinking, different ways of living the faith and of evangelizing, but we wish to love each other as brothers and sisters, respecting our legitimate differences, and valuing each other as gifts for the Church."

"The witness of the martyrs should not only amaze us, the testimony of the martyrs should move us, it should be an invitation to us."

"If authorities fail to fulfill their duties, there is a risk that society will take measures, and perhaps they will not be the most adequate."

"Life is the most important gift of all, anything which threatens life is not progress, it is regression. And the Church has never been in favour of regression. The Church defends progress which makes use of technology, of which the horizon is a possibility, and of ethics of which the horizon is finality. If we combine technology, science and ethics without control, then we unleash an insane machine which goes in all directions including the destruction of mankind. If instead, we combine bio-ethics and bio-genetics we indicate a path leading to the edification rather than the annihilation of mankind. Ethics alone are able to understand when "progress" will destroy man: ethics accept everything which edifies man and reject all which aims to destroy man."

"Conscientious objection is a universally established right; I think that sometimes the problem is how it is understood or put into practice. Doctors and nurses have the right to have their moral, spiritual, and personal convictions respected, but never in detriment to or contempt of anyone."

"We stand in millions against violence, we firmly believe that we cannot let a handful of individuals steal our peace. We cannot allow them to steal our streets and take our city hostage."

"Work for the construction of a more just society, where there are job opportunities for all and fair wages, to avoid the temptation to get easy money. You have to raise your voice: we must not get used to living in a climate of violence, this leads to indifference."

"Charity is only authentic when it is disinterested and is freely given, when it is not done with the desire to obtain other goals, when it is not at the service of worldly tactics or used as proselytism, to gain political or religious supporters."

"Much has been lost in U.S. culture because of secularism. The values of the immigrants are very basic, reflecting a profound Catholicism where faith, family, and expressions of piety, etc., are part of our daily life."

"No one is excluded from their proclamation that Jesus is Lord, that God loves all people, that all of us are sisters and brothers, beloved children of the one God, for God alone is able to feed the deepest hungers of the human heart."

"May God have mercy on you! May God bless you! Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent! With all my heart I forgive my enemies! Long live Christ the King!"

"The Church must speak out on politics, otherwise she would betray the Gospel."

"The role of the priest is make Christ manifest, such that we may be like a window which is unseen. You can see the window only when it is dirty, but as long as it is clean you can see right through it, and what we want is for people to see Christ."

"I think that the need is, above all, for systematic and solid catechesis for the people, that is, to preach the Gospel, as St. Paul said, in season and out of season, to instruct the people regarding the importance of the family and the value of the family, regarding the nature of Christian morality that Our Lord Jesus Christ left to us and really, to form their consciences from childhood."

"I have known him since 1999, when I was rector of the seminary, he came here to teach and served as vice rector with me and was extremely helpful in beginning St. John Vianney seminary. It is with great joy that I welcome him, both as a friend and a brother, and now as a co-worker as a bishop — as auxiliary bishop here."

"Jesus is the one who always attracts and appeals, and as much as we present the true Jesus, I think people will come back, because they really need him."

"Mexico is a country that has a lot of energy potential. We not only have oil; we also have shale gas. But we cannot expect that a Mexican state company is the only one that can exploit the resources. Resources will continue belonging to Mexicans. They are the patrimony of the nation. But the Mexican state must find more efficient ways to exploit those resources."

"Our current president, Enrique Peña Nieto, could not name three books he had read and finally was obliged to fall back on the Bible. Too bad he doesn’t read the Mexican Constitution before going to bed. At least it would have something to do with his job!"

"Asia is a region with great potential, and the TPP would create a new relationship with great potential for trade among the countries signing the agreement. These two instruments, if they materialize, will create great opportunities for Mexico. Mexico hasn’t been the obstacle to finalizing the TPP."

"The espionage is illegal, and I think that it breaks from the climate of harmony and cordiality we should have among our nations and peoples. Given everything that is now known, and the position of other heads of state on this issue, we hope that the United States, with humbleness, will recognize [the error of] what it did and avoid such actions from now on. And if there have been violations of international law, penalties should take place."

"Corruption is an endemic evil -- a cultural problem, not only for Mexico but for [all] Latin America. Fighting it has to do with [improving] the environment for individual development. And this involves improving the economy, which we’re doing. And wherever there’s corruption, people have to denounce it so that there’s no impunity and we can penalize or sanction corrupt practices."

"We are a sovereign nation, and we will act as such. The exercise of sovereignty implies that, in the process of negotiation, our only interest is that of Mexico and those of Mexicans."

"Prefiero morir de pie que vivir de rodillas."

"The historic January 1, 1994, indigenous uprising led by the Zapatistas in Chiapas further strengthened the new sense of self. By April 22, 1994, it seemed that the spirit of Mexico's revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata had marched straight from the mountains of Chiapas to Dolores Park, San Francisco."

"Ignorance and obscurantism have never produced anything other than flocks of slaves for tyranny."

"¡Tierra y Libertad!"

"La tierra es de quien la trabaja con sus manos."

"I want to die a slave to principles. Not to men."