Two priests who were violently abducted from their church in Mexico on Sunday have been found murdered.
The priests, Alejo Nabor Jiménez Juárez and José Alfredo Juárez de la Cruz, are the latest victims of extremes of violence and bloodshed that has become endemic in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz in east Mexico.
The violence has cost the lives of at least 17 journalists since 2010 as well as many others.
The Mexico Conference of Bishops said in a statement that bodies of the two priests were found just one day after the abduction from their Catholic church in a deprived area of Poza Rica.
They were found on a main road between Poza Rica and Papantla, according to the Catholic Herald. The priest's driver was found unharmed but has been placed under police protection.
The Mexican bishops said in their statement that felt "pain and outrage" at the violence against the priests.
"In this time of grief, helplessness and tragedy caused by violence, we raise our prayer to heaven for the eternal rest of our brothers," they said.
They implored God for the "conversion" of the murderers, and said they were waiting to learn more about what happened and for justice to take its course.
"We pray the Lord bless our beloved country, and asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace, so that together we seek the integrity and progress of our people," the bishops said.
They also posted condolences and sorrow on social media around the world.
La Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, expresa sus condolencias, cercanía y oración https://t.co/kpb5wTXztO pic.twitter.com/kgbr5csE0o
— CEM (@IglesiaMexico) September 19, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">
