AP PHOTOS: Indigenous deacon in Mexico echoes late pope's call to defend rights and Mother Earth

SIMOJOVEL, Mexico (AP) — Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez helps tend to his small Tsotsil Catholic community in Mexico. He was ordained a deacon in 2022, during the papacy of the late Pope Francis.

At a recent service in the remote southern Mexican community of Simojovel, Catholic and Mayan symbols mingled at the altar as Pérez Gómez, 57, read the Gospel in his native Tsotsil and echoed Francis’ call to defend human rights, justice, and care for Mother Earth.

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez arrives to the local Catholic chapel in Constitución, near Simojovel, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Indigenous women attend a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

FILE - Crecencia López, wife of Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez, offers Communion wafers during a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos, File)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez holds a Bible translated into Tsotsil, a Mayan language, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

FILE - Indigenous women kneel in prayer during a memorial Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos, File)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez prepares to unwrap Communion wafers consecrated by a priest, in the Simojovel municipality,, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Congregants attend an Indigenous blessing ceremony for Communion wafers that will be taken to a priest to be consecrated before they can be given out, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez prepares the altar for a Sunday Mass, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez pauses for a work break on his farm in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Crecencia López, wife of Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez, prepares to slaughter a chicken for dinner, on their farm in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez walks along a dirt road on his farm in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez bestows a blessing on a child during a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

FILE - Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez, accompanied by his wife Crecencia López, stands at the altar during a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in Simojovel, Mexico, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos, File)

A Virgin of Guadalupe statue adorns an altar in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Francisca Perez attends a blessing ceremony for Communion wafers that will then be taken to a priest to be consecrated before they can be given out at the next day's service, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez, center, takes part in a blessing ceremony after picking up Communion wafers that need to be taken to a priest to be consecrated before he can give them out in his next day service, in the Simojovel municipality, Mexico, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Isabel Mateos)

NEW YORK (AP) — Make no mistake, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has heard all the harsh criticism this offseason.

There's no way to duck that much heat — especially when some of it's coming from your own kitchen.

But after saying goodbye to popular slugger Pete Alonso, star closer Edwin Díaz and two other Mets stalwarts before Christmas, a steadfast Stearns remains confident in his vision for 2026 and beyond.

“Clearly, this has been an offseason with a lot of change. Some of that change has been really tough,” Stearns said Tuesday at a Citi Field luncheon with Mets beat reporters.

“I certainly understand that there have been points in this offseason that have been frustrating for our fan base. We’re not blind to that at all. I’m certainly not blind to that. I hear it. I recognize it. I hear it from my friends and family, at times. I’m also very convicted that what we are doing is the right thing for our franchise going forward to accomplish our goals of creating a consistent playoff team. A team that year after year is a true World Series contender.”

In addition to letting Alonso and Díaz leave as free agents, Stearns traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown Mets.

New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement. With the club intent on improving its defense, Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien was acquired from Texas in the trade for Nimmo.

“It has not been hard for me to stay patient and stick to my principles,” said Stearns, raised in New York City. “I grew up a Mets fan. I love the Mets. I am committed to doing this job in a way that I think truly sets us up for success for a sustained period of time. That’s why I want to be here.

“And so I think that end goal and that end desire and that motivation makes it much easier for me to not be swayed by some near-term sentiment. As difficult as near-term sentiment can be, and certainly in this town as loud as it can be, I understand ultimately what our task is, what our mission is, and I believe we’re on our way to achieving it.”

Looking for a big bat in the outfield to pair with Juan Soto, the Mets are believed to be pursuing free agent Kyle Tucker, who batted .266 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs and an .841 OPS in 136 games for the Chicago Cubs last season.

Last year’s World Series teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, are thought to be the other finalists for Tucker.

New York finished 83-79 last season and missed the playoffs even though owner Steve Cohen was on track to be baseball's second-biggest spender at $431 million in projected payroll and luxury tax.

“What we’ve done previously has not been good enough. We all know that. I certainly know that. And we’ve got to do better,” Stearns said. “We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster. We’ve got a very good farm system. And we’ve got a very good present-day major league team as we sit here today that’s going to get better before we get to opening day.”

Stearns, a small-market success while running the Milwaukee Brewers, pointed to young Mets players like catcher Francisco Alvarez, third baseman Brett Baty and pitcher Nolan McLean as reasons for both immediate and long-term optimism.

“We do think we’ve got a really special crop of young starters,” Stearns said. “I think to this point we’ve yielded really good prospects, and the next challenge for us is let’s turn them into really good major league players.

“I think we’re going to be able to be a good team and win games in somewhat different ways than maybe we have over the past couple of years, and the roster we’re putting together I think will reflect that.”

Top prospect Carson Benge will get a chance to make the big league team out of spring training, possibly in center field.

“We think this is going to be a really good player who’s going to be good here for a long time. Whether that begins on opening day, I’m not sure yet,” Stearns said. “There’s not a lot that we don’t like.”

Left-handed reliever A.J. Minter, rehabbing from surgery for a torn left lat muscle, probably won't be ready for opening day. “But it shouldn’t be too far into the season,” Stearns said.

Christian Scott is expected back following Tommy John surgery in September 2024.

“He’ll be fully ready to go. Exactly how we ramp his season, I think we still have to determine that,” Stearns said.

Third baseman Mark Vientos is expected to get playing time at first along with Polanco.

Stearns said Soto has “worked incredibly hard” on improving his defense this offseason in the Dominican Republic.

“I think Juan can get materially better and I think Juan is the type of person and player when he puts his mind to something, generally achieves it,” Stearns said. “We have to be better at keeping runs off the board. Our pitching and defense has to be better.”

McLean and fellow right-hander Clay Holmes are set to pitch for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic in March.

“We are having conversations with both of those guys about workload,” Stearns said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - New York Mets' Pete Alonso gathers his belongings in the dugout after the Mets lost to the Miami Marlins in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky,File)

FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)