The Cathedral of Tortosa now displays its fifth restored altarpiece, the baroque sculptural composition dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the souls in Purgatory. The intervention, directed by the Centre de Béns Mobles de Catalunya, has confirmed the authorship of Antoni Ferrer and the date of 1714 for this imposing piece of polychromed and gilded wood.

The Centre's director, Mireia Mestre, highlighted "the effort of the Diocese of Tortosa" in preserving ecclesiastical and artistic heritage, ensuring it is passed on "to future generations in its utmost integrity".

The altarpiece, measuring eleven meters in height and seven in width, is crowned by a 1941 oil painting on canvas by Josep Andreu Murall, depicting the Virgin of Carmen saving souls from Purgatory. At the top, an oval baroque canvas shows the Mass of Saint Gregory, by an unknown artist.

Woodworm problems accelerated the need for curative conservation, along with fragmentation of the polychromy, accumulation of dirt, and the presence of obsolete and unsafe electrical wiring on the altarpiece's reverse.

The urgency of this restoration necessitated postponing the intervention on the basilica's Renaissance gate. The cathedral chapter hopes to receive aid from the Department of Culture to restore its original polychromy.

The Bishop of Tortosa, Sergi Gordo, thanked the Cathedral Chapter for their work in preserving the temple, where five altarpieces have already been restored, the facade cleaned, and the restored apse will soon be open to visitors. "It is another way to highlight the cultural heritage we have from so many centuries, and which is a message of the Gospel in the 21st century," he stated.