MEXICO CITY (LifeSiteNews) — One of the world’s most important Marian shrines has been plunged into a scandal involving alleged organized crime.
In a highly irregular decision on Pentecost Sunday, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes reinstated Father Efraín Hernández Díaz as rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, despite the fact that the shrine’s own Chapter of Canons (the official council of senior priests who advise the rector and help govern the national shrine) had presented evidence of “links to organized crime groups (money laundering),” death threats, intimidation, workplace harassment, and serious financial irregularities that threatened the very future of Mexico’s most important Catholic sanctuary.
The Basilica of Guadalupe is one of the most visited Catholic shrines on the planet, attracting more than 20 million pilgrims each year and handling millions of dollars in offerings and donations from the faithful.
The Chapter’s formal complaint, dated September 19, 2025, described a grave picture of misconduct at the heart of the national shrine. The senior priests warned that the rector’s actions were jeopardizing the proper financial management of the Basilica’s assets (in violation of Articles 21 to 30 of the Shrine’s own Statutes) and its legal status as a public ecclesiastical entity.
Among the most serious accusations listed in the document were:
irresponsible management of the Basilica’s finances and assets;
removal of confidential documentation, bank statements, property records, and confidential employee data;
contracts with individuals and companies of dubious tax and financial standing;
“links to organized crime groups (money laundering)”;
intimidation by these individuals, including death threats, workplace and psychological harassment — actions the canons said could trigger a potential scandal both within and outside the Church.
The complaint further stated that the rector showed “lack of judgement and psychological and spiritual disorder,” allegedly being “advised by third parties who are part of these corrupt groups of power and evil,” and explicitly requested that Fr. Hernández not be allowed to return as rector or as a canon of the Basilica of Guadalupe, warning that his reinstatement “would bring a wave of vengeance and desolation.”
Cardinal Aguiar accepted the gravity of the accusations at the time. On September 20, 2025, he issued two official decrees (817/2025 and 890/2025) removing Fr. Hernández as rector. A formal canonical preliminary investigation (IP 17/2025) was opened, and the international auditing firm Deloitte was commissioned to carry out a comprehensive financial audit of the shrine.
However, on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, the cardinal convened the Chapter on short notice for a closed-door meeting. A 16-minute audio recording of the session, which has circulated among Church insiders, captures Cardinal Aguiar informing the priests that both the Deloitte audit and the canonical investigation had found “no irregularities.” However, unofficially, LifeSite was informed by someone close to the investigators that the results of both investigations were unfavorable to the rector, Hernández Díaz.
The cardinal then immediately reinstated Fr. Hernández as rector — verbally and on the spot — without releasing any portion of the audit report and without issuing any formal written decree. According to sources familiar with Church governance procedures for a national shrine, this immediate verbal reinstatement is highly irregular. Normally, the cardinal is required to submit a terna — a list of three qualified candidates — to the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) for review and approval. That step was entirely bypassed.
Verbal testimony shared with LifeSiteNews adds another troubling element. Rector Hernández Díaz had earlier installed private armed guards on every floor of the Basilica to guard the reinstated rector, without informing the priests at all. The canons say they have felt intimidated and threatened ever since.
Latest developments as of May 28, 2026:
The Mexican newspaper Excélsior published a strongly supportive article framing the reinstatement as a measure that “strengthens the leadership” of Cardinal Aguiar and “puts an end to a period of uncertainty.” It claims no irregularities were found and highlights the importance of the Basilica ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
In contrast, political commentator Pedro Ferriz de Con, during a live broadcast on his YouTube channel, described the situation as “systematic theft of alms” at the Basilica. He noted that the rector had been suspended and later reinstated, generating an ongoing public confrontation with the Chapter of Canons. Ferriz said the matter has now reached the Mexican Episcopal Conference and the Apostolic Nuncio.
Guillermo Gazanini, author of the Sursum Corda blog on the respected Catholic site InfoVaticana, has personally reviewed the original September 19, 2025, complaint letter from the Chapter and the two removal decrees. He has not seen the Deloitte audit report or any formal reinstatement document. (See his May 25 article here. And new May 28 article.)
A separate column published the same day on InfoVaticana under the byline SPECOLA goes even further, claiming that “narcos have entered the Basilica” and that regular bribe payments and hidden expenses are reaching Cardinal Aguiar himself.
These additional accusations remain unverified by LifeSiteNews.
On Thursday, LifeSiteNews sent written questions to Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes through the archdiocese chancery and is awaiting a response.
As of May 28, 2026, the Archdiocese of Mexico has issued no public statement, released no summary or full Deloitte audit report, and published no official decree regarding the reinstatement. The story had appeared almost exclusively in Spanish on InfoVaticana until mainstream media coverage Thursday.
