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Enrique Sánchez Martínez

Bishop of Mexicali
Bishop
1960
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Ordained
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Consecrated Bishop
Mexicali
Diocese
Mexico
Country
The Life

Enrique Sánchez Martínez was born on 2 December 1960 in Cuencamé, in the Diocese of Gómez Palacio, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Durango on 29 June 1986. He studied at the Durango seminary and took a licentiate in sociology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His motto is Videns eum misericordia motus est ("When he saw him, he had compassion").

As a priest of Durango he served as bursar and lecturer in the major seminary, as head of diocesan social pastoral care, as chaplain of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, and as parish priest and vicar for pastoral care; he was also diocesan economist, secretary of the Presbyteral Council, adviser to Marriage Encounter and Encuentros de Novios, and parish priest of Santa Elena in Río Grande, Zacatecas, from 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him titular bishop of Thamugadi and auxiliary bishop of Durango on 21 July 2008, and he was ordained bishop on 10 October 2008. Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Nuevo Laredo on 16 November 2015, and he took possession on 13 January 2016. On 11 September 2023 Francis transferred him to Mexicali, and he was installed as its fourth bishop on 7 November 2023; Rogelio Cabrera López was appointed apostolic administrator of Nuevo Laredo the next day.

In the Episcopal Conference of Mexico he was responsible for health ministry from 2009 to 2015, served as a substitute member from 2016 to 2018 and on the Permanent Council for the Monterrey Region from 2018, joined the Mexico-United States border bishops' group in 2016, and has chaired the Penitentiary Pastoral Commission since 2021. On 12 October 2025 he took part in the binational encounter 'Migrants, Pilgrims of Hope in Christ,' a procession across the San Luis, Arizona-San Luis Río Colorado border and a bilingual binational Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish, San Luis Río Colorado, whose joint declaration was signed by the bishops of twelve dioceses.

Major Works & Initiatives
Pastoral letter on violence
As auxiliary bishop of Durango, Sánchez Martínez denounced drug-cartel violence, human trafficking, and the arms trade and urged Mexicans to act to eradicate the violence. Reported by Catholic News Agency, 29 July 2010; the full text was not located.
Una sociedad reconciliada con Dios está más cerca de la paz
Message on the climate of violence in Mexico, Durango, 2 January 2011, signed as auxiliary bishop of Durango. Reprinted by Catholic.net from cem.org.mx.
Letter for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Letter asking Mexicans to welcome immigrants and refugees entering through Mexico's southern border, celebrated 16 January 2011. Reported by Catholic News Agency, 13 January 2011; the full text was not located.
Open letter on bean farmers
Open letter from Durango criticising the bean-trade system run through SAGARPA/ASERCA warehouses, reported by Agenzia Fides, 15 March 2014.
In His Own Words
because they are a relevant part of the immigration phenomenon
In his letter for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 2011, as reported by Catholic News Agency, 13 January 2011.
Our people need, above all, that the corruption of those who have the responsibility to monitor the marketing systems for agricultural products to decrease
In his open letter on bean farmers, Durango, as reported by Agenzia Fides, 15 March 2014.
A society reconciled with God is closer to peace
Title of his message on the climate of violence in Mexico, Durango, 2 January 2011, as reprinted by Catholic.net from cem.org.mx.
without concerted action at the international level by the countries that are involved, the results of the efforts made in Mexico to eradicate this evil or debilitate its effects will be minimal
In his pastoral letter on violence, July 2010, as reported by Catholic News Agency, 29 July 2010.
The Old Mass, See by See
Mexicali2023-11-07 – presentNo act of his own
What he inheritedNo provision for the 1962 Missal inherited from his predecessor at Mexicali is established in the record; Francisco Moreno Barron administered the see immediately before his installation.
Since the SSPX decree of 2 July 2026: No statement recorded as of 2026-10-28.
Reviewed 2026-10-28Confidence: medium
Nuevo Laredo2016-01-13 – 2023-11-07No act of his own
What he inheritedNo provision for the 1962 Missal inherited from his predecessor at Nuevo Laredo is established in the record.
Since the SSPX decree of 2 July 2026: No statement recorded as of 2026-10-28.
Reviewed 2026-10-28Confidence: medium
Durango2008-10-10 – 2015-11-16auxiliary
Held before Traditionis Custodes; no record on the old Mass falls in this tenure.
Domus Dei’s Verdict
The Bishop & the Mass of Ages
No governing act of his own found
References & Further Reading
1.
Rinunce e nomine, 11 September 2023 — Holy See Press Office · 2023Transfer to Mexicali; CV: born 2 December 1960, Cuencamé; Durango seminary; licentiate in sociology, Gregorian; priest 29 June 1986; Durango offices; titular bishop of Thamugadi and auxiliary of Durango elected 21 July 2008, ordained 10 October 2008; appointed Nuevo Laredo 16 November 2015.
2.
November 2023, Living Bishop Events — Catholic-Hierarchy · 20237 November 2023: Sánchez Martínez installed Bishop of Mexicali; Francisco Moreno Barrón ceased as apostolic administrator of Mexicali the same day; 8 November 2023: Rogelio Cabrera López appointed apostolic administrator of Nuevo Laredo.
3.
13 January, Living Bishop Events — Catholic-Hierarchy · 201613 January 2016: Sánchez Martínez installed Bishop of Nuevo Laredo; Jorge Alberto Cavazos Arizpe ceased as apostolic administrator of Nuevo Laredo the same day.
4.
Bishop calls Mexicans to welcome refugees and immigrants — Catholic News Agency · 2011Report, 13 January 2011, on his letter for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
5.
The complaint of a Bishop: 'Corruption strangles bean farmers' — Agenzia Fides · 2014Report, 15 March 2014, on his open letter from Durango on the bean trade through SAGARPA/ASERCA warehouses.
6.
A society reconciled with God is closer to peace — Enrique Sánchez Martínez · Catholic.net (from cem.org.mx) · 2011Message on the climate of violence in Mexico, Durango, 2 January 2011, signed as auxiliary bishop of Durango.
7.
Bishop calls on Mexicans to end violence — Catholic News Agency · 2010Report, 29 July 2010, on his pastoral letter on violence as auxiliary bishop of Durango.
8.
Binational Mass: Faith that transcends borders — Kino Border Initiative · 2025Binational encounter 'Migrants, Pilgrims of Hope in Christ,' 12 October 2025, San Luis Río Colorado; Sánchez Martínez participant and signatory of the joint declaration. The report paraphrases his thanks and does not quote him.
9.
Enrique Sánchez Martínez — Wikipedia · 2026Motto Videns eum misericordia motus est and supplementary priestly-office and conference-role detail only; all tenure dates rest on the Vatican bulletin and Catholic-Hierarchy. Its infobox still lists Durango as his see and is not used.
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