Four young Catholic missionaries have been tortured and shot dead in Mexico.

The four men were kidnapped on Saturday by an armed gang in La Ruana in the western state of Michoacan, according to InfoCatolica.

They were part of Mexico's youth Catholic evangelistic movement, known as Rainbow.

The victims were identified as Willibald Hernandez, Adam Valencia, Jesus Lopez Urbina and Jesus Ayala Aguilar.

Their bodies, bearing signs of torture, were found near an orchard in San Juan de Los Platanos, in Apatzingan.

The H-3 cartel, known for synthetic drugs production and trafficking, is thought to be responsible. Jesus Ayala had previously lost his father in a 2014 attack by H-3.

According to Proceso, the four young men were last seen on Saturday, outside their parish church. Their kidnapping and murder has caused outrage as they were know to be "calm, cool and without vices".

Their parish priest José Luis Segura Barragán wrote on Facebook: "I think the time has come to tackle seriously organised crime...

"We can't endure more murders, executions, abductions, kidnapping, extortion and other cruel and destructive events that criminals commit against society and the Catholic Church."

He called on the Church, "the mother of the believers", to speak up to defend her children who suffer the violence of organised crime.

"What mother won't stand up for their children, even sacrificing his own life!" he wrote. Church leaders can demand that the civil authorities comply with their duty to provide security to the lives, property and institutions of the community.

The priest continued: "And to the community itself it's your turn to feel one, not divided, not being divided in two or more parties and irreconcilable enemies. To the community it's up to overcome their hatred, grudges, fears, enconos and bad memories, that the sacrifice of the boys of the rainbow is not worthless. May it be a source of sorrow and reconciliation of the families and all the who live in La Ruana."