The event, organized by the JNC, gathered around four hundred people in Planoles. Pujol's speech, read by the president of the national council of the JNC, Carlota Monfort, championed the model of “Catalunya, un sol poble” (Catalonia, one single people) and called for integration and social cohesion, amidst growing anti-immigration discourse.
Without directly naming any political party or leader, Pujol rejected ideas that equate defending identity with exclusion. He cautioned: “Never turn your adversaries into enemies, do not confuse firmness with sectarianism, nor identity with exclusion.” He emphasized that Catalonia's strength “has never been uniformity, but rather the capacity to integrate, to add, and to make very different people feel included.”
The former president highlighted integration as one of Catalonia's great historical victories and stressed the ongoing duty to “maintain the language, transmit culture, integrate those who come from outside, and foster cohesion.” He noted that this task is particularly crucial in a globalized world where identities tend to weaken.
In his message, Pujol urged facing the future with confidence, avoiding fear, isolation, or nostalgia. “A small nation only survives if it has personality, if it knows who it is,” he stated.
Finally, he advised against succumbing to pessimism or discouragement, recalling that “Catalonia has overcome much greater difficulties than the current ones.” He warned that the primary danger for the country is “internal weariness, resignation, and despondency,” and asserted that “strong nations are those with a strong society.”
The event was attended by approximately four hundred people, including the Secretary General of Junts, Jordi Turull; the President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Josep Rull; and former leaders of the JNC and Convergència such as Carles Campuzano, Jordi Xuclà, Marta Pascal, Albert Batalla, and Irene Rigau.
During the tribute, Pujol's political and personal trajectory was reviewed. He reaffirmed his life's dedication to serving Catalonia, “with mistakes and successes,” and called for continued work for the country with a long-term perspective, as “Catalonia is an unfinished work.”
