"Those that are in the caravan, 75 percent of them won't be accepted," he added. "That's been the number over the years."

The April 7 letter, addressed to people in Mexico and the United States and the presidents of both countries, echoed sentiments of U.S. border bishops by saying the frontier between the two countries "is not a war zone".

The bishop of Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, has expressed alarm after two church explosions within four days.

The priests were traveling with four other passengers, all of whom were injured.

1,603 of the damaged churches were catalogued as historic buildings.

His appointment to the Mexico City Archdiocese comes as the city of nearly 9 million people recovers from a devastating earthquake, which killed more than 300 people. 

Local officials project the statue in Zacatecas will cost $4.25 million

Blessed Cristobal, along with two other indigenous Tlaxcalteca youths, Blessed Antonio and Blessed Juan, will be canonized Oct. 15 at the Vatican

Mexican church leaders react to a devastating earthquake as improvised efforts bring ordinary Mexicans together to lend a helping hand.

Church leaders react to the massive 8.1 magnitude earthquake which struck off of the Mexican coast, leaving death and destruction in Guatemala and southern Mexico.