Evangelical Church in Mexico Burned Ahead of Pope Visit

An evangelical church in Chiapas, Mexico, was attacked the day before Pope Francis' visit to the state.

The church Fuente de Fe, Alabanza y Poder was set on fire the morning of Feb. 15.

Evangelical Focus reported the attackers broke into the church and set 200 chairs and other flammable objects on fire, resulting in thousands of Mexican pesos worth of damages and a destroyed ceiling.

Ciro Díaz Méndez, the pastor of the church, tried to report the attack to the police, but every offices were closed because of the pope's visit.

The church is located in the city of Zinacantá, a region that has recently experienced some of the biggest growth of evangelical churches. According to Catholic bishops, Roman Catholics make up about 58 percent of the population.

Although Chiapas hosts an exploding evangelical community, Roman Catholics in the region continue to persecute and attack evangelical Christians.

Pope Francis condemned the "systematic and organized" discrimination of indigenous people in his address.

Chiapas residents need "to do some soul searching and learn to say sorry," he said.