The Capuchinas Convent, located in the heart of Girona's Barri Vell, has remained closed and unused for nearly eight years. The community of Capuchin Poor Clares left the building in 2017 due to a lack of vocations and the advanced age of the last nuns, ending more than four centuries of presence in the city.
This situation contrasts sharply with the growing lack of residential places for low-income elderly people in the city. The central location and dimensions of the convent make it ideal for housing a social geriatric residence, which is considered an urgent social need rather than an accessory project.
The Girona City Council has repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing the convent for social use, but to date, no operation has been closed or agreement reached. This institutional inaction is criticized, as it is believed to favor waiting for a possible price reduction or an opportunity that benefits private interests.
The Social Doctrine of the Church recalls that the universal destination of goods must prevail over particular interest.
The case of the Capuchinas is compared to that of the Discalced Carmelites, another convent that ended up being sold and rebuilt for real estate operations. It is emphasized that every year that passes without a defined project is a year lost for the elderly who need these resources, making the decision a profoundly social and human matter.
