This browser is no longer supported. He has survived more than one attempt on his life, and his work in favor of missing persons, immigrants, children and juveniles, indigenous populations, prostitutes and pariahs of all types has earned him the undying hatred of many, including the drug rings.
Yet the threats seem to leave no mark on him. An engineer by trade and an intellectual son of May , the year-old Dominican friar has forged himself a legend as an untamed soul. But the man who was supposed to wrest power away from the unruly Ruiz and return the diocese to the path of conservatism ended up supporting the local clergy instead. Rome never forgot. As punishment, four years later Vera was transferred to Saltillo, in the arid northern state of Coahuila.
It was to no avail. Vera returned to the trenches, facing up to the government and to the fearsome drug cartel of Los Zetas. The gap only widened when Vera began defending women who have abortions, and homosexuals.
But that was until the ideological earthquake represented by the new pope, Francis I, gave renewed relevance to his words. Now, other bishops are suddenly turning to Vera for guidance. What visits would you recommend to the Pope when he comes to Mexico? I would also make him visit a prison, because he likes going to prisons. I would also take him to the outskirts of a large city, because he says we should go to the periphery.
I would organize a visit on the basis of what he is asking us to do. Not long ago you baptized the daughter of a lesbian couple. What do you think about homosexuality? That is a topic that we have refused to address.
