Scottish Catholic Observer

A Mexican priest has been stabbed during evening Mass in the capital’s metropolitan cathedral in front a horrified congregation.

Fr Miguel Angel Machorro is in hospital following the attack on Monday May 15. A man stabbed the priest in the neck before leaving him lying on the ground in blood-soaked clothes.

Witnesses say it appeared that the attacker intended to slit the priest’s throat, with archdiocesan spokesman, Hugo Valdelomar, saying the Fr Machorro suffered serious injuries near his jugular vein and lung.

Fr Machorro is in a critical condition in hospital, according to the Archdiocese of Mexico.

The suspect was detained as he tried to escape from the cathedral, located on the popular El Zocalo Square and the largest cathedral in the Americas.

The man claimed to be an artist from North America, while Mexican authorities identified him as 35-year-old John Rene Rock Schild (above, handcuffed after the attack).

Armando Martinez, the archdiocese’s lawyer, encouraged people to pray for Fr Machorro in light of the attack.

He did not speculate on any potential motivations behind the assault, saying more information was needed.

“We cannot talk about terrorism, we cannot talk about motives because we obviously have no significant facts,” he said.

Hugo Valdelomar gave further insight into the incident on Monday night in a radio interview on Tuesday morning.

“After celebrating Mass at the high altar, Fr Miguel came down [to the pews] to bless worshippers with holy water and when he turned to walk back to the altar, the man stops him and tries to slit his throat,” he said. “He grabbed his neck and tried to slit his throat.”

He also spoke of Mr Schild’s cold attitude, and said he was not a Muslim or a member of any Islamic movement.