Stolen relic of Saint Toribio Romo recovered in San Luis Potosí after a rapid investigation. The martyr’s relic was found intact.
Newsroom (15/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) A first-class relic of Saint Toribio Romo, one of Mexico’s most revered martyr saints, has been recovered after being stolen from the Parish-Sanctuary of El Señor de Burgos, known locally as El Saucito, in the state of San Luis Potosí.
Church officials confirmed that the relic, which contains bone remains of the saint, was recovered intact only a day after the theft, bringing relief to clergy and faithful alike.
Speaking to ACI Prensa, Father Marco Antonio Luna Aguilar, caretaker of the sanctuary, described how the alleged theft unfolded on July 10. According to the priest, a man entered the parish around noon posing as a visitor. After spending several minutes walking through the church, he made his way to the chapel housing the reliquary containing the saint’s remains.
Father Luna Aguilar explained that the suspect was able to loosen the screws securing the glass niche that protected the relic. He then removed the reliquary, concealed it under his arm, and exited the sanctuary.
Security camera footage proved crucial in the investigation. The recordings reportedly allowed authorities to identify the alleged perpetrator, significantly accelerating efforts to locate both the suspect and the stolen sacred object.
The following day, authorities recovered the reliquary. According to the San Luis Potosí State Attorney General’s Office, investigators located the relic during their inquiry and subsequently took the alleged offender into custody.
Despite the theft, the relic itself was unharmed. Father Luna Aguilar reported that the reliquary sustained only minor damage while “the relic is intact.”
Reflecting on the outcome, the priest expressed gratitude for the swift recovery.
“It was a blessing that this man didn’t immediately sell it or throw it away, just get rid of it like that,” Father Luna Aguilar said.
The recovery is particularly significant given the spiritual importance of the relic and its connection to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Burgos. The church received sanctuary status in May 2003 and serves as a major center of devotion. Alongside the venerated image of Our Lord of Burgos, it houses the relic of Saint Toribio Romo, a priest who was martyred during Mexico’s Cristero War.
Saint Toribio Romo is among the Catholic figures remembered for their witness during one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s religious history. The Cristero War erupted after the government of President Plutarco Elías Calles implemented measures that severely restricted the life and activities of the Catholic Church in Mexico. In response, thousands of Catholics rose up in defense of religious freedom.
The conflict remains a defining chapter in Mexican religious history, and its centenary will be commemorated in 2026, marking 100 years since the beginning of the struggle.
For Father Luna Aguilar, the successful recovery of the relic was cause for both relief and reflection.
“It was a blessing to recover it,” he said.
The priest also used the occasion to urge greater care for religious treasures and sacred objects entrusted to the Church.
“Take care of the sacred things God has entrusted to us because their spiritual value is immense,” he said.
The incident has highlighted both the vulnerability of religious artifacts and the importance they hold for Catholic communities. With the relic safely returned and preserved, devotees at El Saucito can once again venerate a tangible connection to one of Mexico’s most beloved martyr saints.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Prensa
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