Why did the Mexican Constitution of 1917 limit the rights of the Roman Catholic Church and foreign interests?

The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was drafted to reflect the aspirations of the various groups involved in the Mexican Revolution, marking a shift away from the government's previously passive role toward an active commitment to the social, economic, and cultural well-being of its citizens.12

The limitations placed on the Roman Catholic Church were rooted in long-standing anticlerical traditions. The constitution incorporated anticlerical clauses from previous charters, reflecting a desire to curb the clergy's historical influence in political and social affairs, which revolutionaries often viewed as an impediment to national progress and secular governance.123

Similarly, the restrictions on foreigners and foreign interests were a direct expression of the nationalistic sentiments that fueled the revolution. By asserting national ownership of subsoil resources through Article 27, the government sought to prioritize social utility and national benefit over foreign economic control. These measures were designed to ensure that Mexico’s resources and labor were used to promote domestic welfare rather than serving as commodities for external profit.12