“The cult of Holy Death is blasphemous,” says Cardinal Ravasi

“The cult of Holy Death is blasphemous,” says Cardinal Ravasi.. It is a “blasphemous” cult, “a degeneration of religion.” These were the words Cardinal Ravasi, the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture used to condemn the widespread worship of Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, which is particularly popular in areas of Mexico affected by criminal violence committed by drug cartels. Speaking at a series of events for believers and non-believers in Mexico City, Cardinal Ravasi spoke out against a cult which is a mix of indigenous Latin American beliefs and the Christian tradition of venerating saints introduced by Catholic missionaries after the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Santa Muerte is depicted as a fancily dressed female skeleton.. People worship La Santa Muerte at home, placing a figure of the saint on an altar, surrounded by offerings in the form of candles, food, drinks (e.g. tequila) and even drugs (e.g. marijuana). They invoke her by reciting a prayer and asking for favours. In general these are favours other saints cannot grant and the gifts offered would be completely inappropriate if offered to other saints.