Toribio Romo González was a Mexican Catholic priest born in Jalisco in 1900. During the religious persecutions of the Cristero War, he lived a mobile life to avoid government forces while continuing his ministry. He served various parishes in his home state before being killed by soldiers in Tequila in 1928. He was later canonized by Pope John Paul II as a martyr. Today, he is widely recognized as a protector for those navigating the border between Mexico and the United States.
Life and ministry
After studying at seminaries in San Juan de los Lagos and Guadalajara, Toribio was ordained in 1922. His work focused on teaching the faith to the poor and emphasizing the Eucharist. Due to anti-clerical laws, he spent his final years traveling frequently to hide from authorities. He eventually sought refuge in an abandoned distillery near Tequila, where he secretly visited his parishioners at night.
Death and veneration
In February 1928, government troops discovered Toribio while he was sleeping in Agua Caliente. He was shot and killed by soldiers during this encounter. He was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2000. While he once wrote a play warning against migration, many people now view him as a patron for undocumented migrants and drivers, often reporting his presence during difficult journeys.