Worthy News – Ten Baptist families were expelled from Tuxpan de Bolanos in Jalisco last week for refusing to recant their faith. According to International Christian Concern, the eviction was the latest incident in the systematic persecution of evangelical Christians in rural Mexico. ICC has estimated that there are 70 open cases of religious persecution against minority Christian communities in six Mexican states.
http://www.worthynews.com/22758-mexico-baptists-families-expelled
EFE – The 882,225 tickets to see Pope Francis during his Feb. 12-17 visit to Mexico will be distributed in the next few days by the dioceses, the visit’s coordinator, Monsignor Eugenio Lira said.
TeleSur – Pope Francis will meet with parents of a group of 43 missing students in February. The head of Mexico’s conference of Bishops Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega said the Pope is eager to meet with victims of violence in Mexico when he visits the country next month, including the families of the Ayotzinapa 43.
Catholic News Agency – Following the rise of fraudulent papal ticket “sales” online, the Mexican Conference of Catholic Bishops has reminded the faithful that tickets to attend events during Pope Francis’ trip are free. Pope Francis will visit Mexico in a highly anticipated trip Feb. 12-18.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/20/pilgrims-beware-mexican-bishops-warn-against-papal/
AP – Cities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to the Mexican city of Juarez as Roman Catholic Church officials caution would-be visitors about scams.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-mexico-border-preparing-popes-ciudad-juarez-visit-36253897
Informador – The visit of Pope Francisco to Mexico City will bring together nearly two million people in the various activities that are scheduled, leaving an economic benefit of 870 million pesos ($50.6 million).
Catholic News Agency – A cross-border Mass will take place during Pope Francis’ visit to Mexico in February. The Holy Father’s schedule includes a Feb. 17 Mass in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, at Benito Juarez Stadium near the border.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/15/pope-francis-trip-to-include-us-mexico-border-mass/
JTA – A new eruv has been established in several heavily Jewish districts of Mexico City. The eruv, a demarcation that permits the carrying of objects in public spaces during the Sabbath, comprises Polanco, Lomas de Chapultepec, Bosques de las Lomas and Interlomas.
http://www.jta.org/2015/12/16/news-opinion/world/mexico-city-inaugurates-new-eruv
Deseret News – Mormons arrived by the thousands Sunday to participate in the dedication of Mexico’s 13th temple – and the 149th temple in operation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – in Tijuana.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865643653/Tijuana-Mexico-Temple-dedicated.html?pg=all
Deseret News – The Tijuana Mexico Temple will be dedicated Sunday, Dec. 13, in three sessions. It will be Mexico’s 13th temple in operation and the 149th in the Church.
National Catholic Reporter – Pope Francis has confirmed he plans to visit four cities in Mexico in February including the U.S. border town of Ciudad Juarez, from where he says he will end his trip to the country.
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-confirms-mexico-trip-including-stop-us-border-town-juarez
Vice News – Pope Francis plans to visit Mexico in February 2016 – and the details of his agenda currently leaking out suggest he will be going to states deeply troubled by the country’s drug wars, inequality and the abuse of migrants.
https://news.vice.com/article/the-pope-is-planning-to-visit-very-troubled-parts-of-mexico