Despite having two of their senior priests murdered by local gangsters, the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, have chosen to stay in the mountains of Mexico to continue their missionary work in the area.

Just over two months ago, a local drug gang headed by Jose Portillo Gil, known as "El Chueco," invaded a local Catholic Church in the mountains of northern Mexico.

They were looking for a local tour guide who sought shelter within the church. They found and killed him, along with the two elderly priests, Javier Campos and Joaquin Mora, who granted him shelter.

The incident stirred widespread anger in Mexico and the Roman Catholic Church, with Pope Francis expressing his pain and shock at the deaths of Campos and Mora. According to CBS News, the man responsible for the gruesome attack is still at large.

Gang Leader in Mexico Makes Veiled Threats Against Jesuit Priest

The Jesuit mission to Cerocahui in the Tarahumara Mountains of Chihuahua state gave valuable humanitarian help to its impoverished people. 

But despite the killings of the two priests, the Jesuits are still committed to continuing their missionary and humanitarian work to the local indigenous populace.

However, a video has surfaced on social media, and it features a masked man who identified himself as Jose Portillo Gil, the gang leader responsible for the killings of the two priests. 

He denied any responsibility for their deaths and said he knew what really happened. He also made veiled threats against the third priest who was at the church when the killings happened.

Despite the video surfacing last week, Jesuit advisor for Mexico, Jorge Gonzalez Candia, dismissed any idea of closing their mission in the area. 

He even told the Associated Press that they were sending in two more priests and a person studying for the priesthood. Gonzalez added that they "could not withdraw due to the fear or insecurity that exists."

Gonzalez also criticized Mexican authorities, stating that it was incredible that even with 1,000 soldiers and 200 national guardsmen deployed to the area and a $250,000 reward, they could not find Portillo Gil.

Since the video has surfaced, Gonzalez further noted that they were asking for "protective measures." This was reportedly the first time they have asked for something like this since they began working with indigenous communities in these mountains decades ago.

READ NEXT: Mexico: Pope Francis in 'Pain and Shock' Over Brutal Killing of Jesuit Priests in Northern Mexico

Gang Leader in Mexico Had Ties to Group Associated With the Sinaloa Cartel

Jose Portillo Gil was already a wanted man before the attack on the church for killing American-Spanish teacher Patrick Braxton-Andrew. 

The gang leader suspected that the teacher from North Carolina was a U.S. drug agent. He had Braxton-Andrew killed when he was traveling through the Tarahumara Mountains.

Portillo Gil's gang is reportedly tied to Los Salazar, another group associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. 

Specifically, the gang seems to have ties with the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel run by the sons of the currently-imprisoned Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera.

According to the Mexicanist, Portillo Gil is also tied with the killing of a journalist. The Mexican government has also reportedly asked the United States for help in trying to capture him.

READ MORE: Mexico: 2 Elderly Jesuit Priests Killed After Gunmen Chased Man Seeking Refuge in Church

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Jesuit Priests Killed in Mexico Buried in Parish - From AP Archive