The Mexican Council of Bishops called on authorities on Tuesday to search for a priest who has been missing for a week.
The council said Fr Joaquin Hernandez Sifuentes is a parish priest in the northern state of Coahuila, which has been plagued by drug cartel violence.
It's unclear if foul play was involved in his disappearance, but the council said that "crime and violence destroy the most sacred thing we have, life."
Fr Hernandez was supposed to take a short vacation from his duties beginning on January 3, according to the Saltillo Diocese. But a close friend was unable to reach him by phone that day. Early that same morning, a neighbour saw two young men take Fr Hernandez's car, but did not see the priest with them.
