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Pressure Mounts for Pope to Speak Catalan at Sagrada Familia

The Catalan government and opposition parties are urging the Vatican to have the pontiff use Catalan during the blessing of the Sagrada Familia's Jesus tower.

Generic image of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
IA

Generic image of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

The Catalan government and several political parties have expressed discontent and are discreetly engaging with the Vatican to persuade Pope Leo XIV to speak Catalan during the blessing of the Sagrada Familia's Jesus tower, an event scheduled for June 2nd.

The Catalan government has initiated discussions with the Vatican to modify the itinerary for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Barcelona, aiming for the pontiff to incorporate Catalan into the blessing of the Sagrada Familia's Jesus tower. Although the Vatican has released the planned intervention, which includes Catalan only in initial greetings and readings, the Generalitat considers the presence of the local language in such a significant event crucial.
Government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque highlighted the visit's importance and the recognition it brings to Catalonia, while acknowledging that the organization of religious events is not directly under the executive's control. "Whatever the government could do to convey the importance of Catalan in Catalonia as a unifying element of our society, it has already done," Paneque stated.
This controversy has drawn criticism from various opposition parties. Mònica Sales, president of Junts in the Catalan Parliament, sent a letter to the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, demanding that he "guarantee respect" for Catalan. Junts expresses concern that some of the pontiff's events in Barcelona "relegate Catalan to a secondary position compared to Spanish," urging "all necessary steps" to ensure the language has "adequate presence according to its legal recognition."
From ERC, Esther Capella demanded that Catalan "be present and serve as the common thread, considering it is Gaudí's work." David Cid of the Comuns also believes the Pope should address attendees in Catalan out of respect. Meanwhile, Sílvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana, announced her "renunciation" of attending the Sagrada Familia event after learning the blessing would be officiated in Spanish.
The liturgical script published by the Vatican indicates the pontiff will alternate between Spanish and Latin for most of the celebration, with Catalan present in the first reading, the subsequent psalm, and the creed. However, the final blessing, according to the published missal, will be entirely in Spanish. The government, however, remains hopeful that Catalan will play a significant role in other events of the visit, such as the meeting at Brians prison.

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