Mexico's leading presidential contenders recently committed to a peace agreement alongside Catholic Church representatives, aiming to address the country's pervasive violence. Claudia Sheinbaum, the frontrunner from the ruling party, expressed openness to dialogue but diverged from the Church's criticisms of President López Obrador's security approach, emphasizing a more optimistic view of the current situation. While acknowledging a decrease in homicides during López Obrador's tenure, concerns persist over organized crime's influence, extending beyond drug trafficking to extortion and corruption.

The peace commitment, titled "National Commitment to Peace," consolidates policies to combat Mexico's entrenched violence. The relationship between López Obrador and the Catholic Church has been strained since the murder of two Jesuit priests in 2022, prompting calls from Bishop Ramón Castro for deeper dialogue between the government and the Church. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez echoed support for the peace agreement, emphasizing the role of religious institutions in fostering peace and advocating for improved working conditions for law enforcement and judicial officials.

Jorge Álvarez Máynez, a lesser-known candidate from the Citizen's Movement, aligned with the Church's concerns and criticized López Obrador's "hugs, not bullets" strategy, highlighting the need for a more effective approach to address violence. In a notable development, bishops from Guerrero engaged in negotiations with criminal groups in an effort to quell the state's rampant violence.