Notre Dame opens office in Mexico City, plans to expand ties

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The University of Notre Dame is opening an office in Mexico City.

The Rev. John Jenkins, president of the university, called the office a first step in a planned expansion of ties between the university and Mexico. Jenkins said like many universities in the United States, Notre Dame first looked to Europe and more recently to Asia for valued partnerships. He says the university is now turning its attention toward Mexico.

Jenkins and others from Notre Dame are visiting Mexico as part of an official university delegation. He says the partnership with Mexico is critical for the future of the Catholic Church in the United States. He says it is also critical to confronting economic and social issues of North and South America.