AMERICA/MEXICO - Mexico mourns the death of Father Pedro Pantoja, defender of the human rights of the poor, farmers and migrants

Monday, 21 December 2020 migrants human rights priests

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Coahuila (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic community in Mexico mourns the death of Jesuit priest Pedro Pantoja Arreola, victim of the complications of Covid-19. Father Pantoja was a passionate defender of the human rights of the poor, workers, peasants and migrants from Central American who had taken refuge in Mexico (see Fides, 4/3/2019).
Responsible for the Casa del Migrante in Saltillo, he received national and international awards and recognition for his action in favor of the weakest. He was a priest loved and respected by the community. Unfortunately, it was not possible to organize the funeral due to the pandemic and on the morning of Saturday 19 December, his remains were cremated. On the evening of Friday 18, in a message sent through social media, the diocese of Saltillo announced the death of the priest due to a cardiac arrest.
Father Pantoja, 76, began to feel unwell in early December and a test revealed his positivity for the Covid-19 virus. For several days he had been treated at home, until his health condition worsened, leading to his transfer to a private hospital in northern Saltillo.
Although doctors noted a slight improvement, unfortunately his condition worsened on Friday 18 his conditions worsened leading to a heart attack. His death occurred on International Migrants Day".
In the Message from the diocese of Coahuila sent to Fides, the faithful are asked to pray for the priest, who dedicated his ministry to the defense of the human rights of migrants, refugees, workers, farmers and the homeless. He also expressed his condolences to the staff of the "Casa del Migrante", which for 20 years has been a refuge for thousands and thousands of immigrants.
Father Pedro was born in the state of Durango, but was an adopted son of Coahuila, and lived in Parras, in the coal region, where he led the miners' movements, Acuña and Saltillo. He always supported the idea that migrants are not criminals, but they move because of violence, insecurity and hunger.
He led a simple life and was not afraid to show up at the barracks to defend the migrants. At the same time, he did not hesitate to help unload vegetables from supplier trucks to feed the guests at the Casa del Migrante. More than once, by refusing to receive gifts and money from drug traffickers, he was threatened with death and even beaten up. In addition to the Casa del Migrante in Coahuila, Father Pedro will also be remembered for the creation of the Casa del Migrante in Acuña. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 21/12/2020)