By Paolo Balduzzi and Juan Medeiros

Mounting violence in Mexico has led to the creation of ‘Synergy for Peace’, an initiative that unites over 30 civil and religious organisations to find just and peaceful solutions. The organisations have also signed a document to promote the development of new horizons.

Today Mexico faces what is likely the worst crisis of violence in its recent history. Nearly 18 years since it began, the severity of the crisis transcends the realms of politics, public health, education, the economy, and the environment. Speaking is Juan José Medeiros, a Mexican man who is a part of one of the Focolare Movement communities. ‘Despite the fact that Mexico is going through a very difficult time,’ he tells us, ‘it has not lost its original call for peace and fraternity’.

His story intertwines with regular news from the media confirming this concern: there are areas – for example, along the border with the United States – where poverty and violence constitute the ‘everyday environment’ in which children are forced to grow up, shaping new generations of Mexicans.

What does the reality of today’s Mexico tell us?
‘The reality we live in today forces us to reflect on our culture and its effect on Mexican identity. We ask ourselves: what kind of country has become accustomed to deaths every day, corruption, impunity, and the failure of its institutions? What happens to people living in a society that tolerates and resigns itself to fear, selfishness, and indolence?’

And what response have you had?
‘A response – together with the Focolare community – is being developed with the Church and the civil institutions that care about the future of the country. After a series of murders in the Sierra Tarahumara in 2022, the Mexican Episcopal Conference, the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious of Mexico, and the Mexican Province of the Society of Jesus decided to embark on a process being called “National Dialogue for Peace” to identify pathways for creating peace, gathering a wide variety of major players in hope and listening. It is a start.’

Who are these ‘players’ and what working methods have they adopted?
‘These “players” comprise more than 30 organisations from various civil and ecclesiastical societies that met immediately – almost within the first few hours of the murders – to reflect on how to create peace on the basis that we are all brothers and sisters. Thus, the “Synergy for Peace” Movement was born. It has fuelled the process of creating a dialogue around peace, seeking to better understand how our communities and various social groups experience and address the lack of peace. Additionally, the mutual drafting of a special document invites all Mexican people to work towards peace and justice. These processes and efforts are taking place simultaneously in various sectors, both on a local and national level.’

Can you share an example of how these efforts are helping Mexico find peace?
‘There is a section of the document that proposes a profound change of consciousness; moving from a culture of violence to a culture of care and recovering the value of life, human dignity, and fraternity. It proposes constructing new horizons founded on community solidarity and restoring trust and collaboration between individuals and their institutions.’