July has started with a new information about the situation of Torreciudad. On Tuesday, July 1, early in the morning, the Diocese of Barbastro-Monzon issued a note explaining the proposal that the diocese has made to the Holy Thirste in relation to the carving of the Virgin of the Angels, as well as the new temple of Torreciudad.
To make the new temple of Torreciudad an international sanctuary
The diocese manifests its intention that "Torreciudad, currently a semi-public oratory, be recognized and canonically erected as an International Shrine", remaining under the authority of the Holy See and "Opus Dei can thus freely designate, in accordance with the law, the rector of the new shrine".
The reality is that since Opus Dei took over the pastoral care of Torreciudad in 1975 with the completion of the new church, the rector had always been a priest of the Prelature appointed by the regional vicar of Opus Dei in Spain.
However, two years ago, in July 2023, the diocesan bishop of Barbastro Monzón unilaterally appointed a new rector, from the diocesan clergy, alleging the need to "regularize" the canonical situation of the sanctuary.
The petitions published by the diocese now point to a division of Torreciudad, with the hermitage and the Virgin remaining under the direct authority of the diocesan bishop, while the new sanctuary would become dependent on the Holy See.
The Vatican, according to the wishes of the diocese, would be in charge of auditing and approving the accounts of Torreciudad," as well as those of the societies and foundations around the complex, the diocese renouncing any benefit or remuneration from them, as well as any patrimonial responsibility". Torreciudad has published its accounts, for years, in which it breaks down the accounting of the sanctuary and its sources of income. financing.
Today, the status of the Torreciudad church is still that of a semi-public oratory, although the Prelature of Opus Dei had already expressed, in 2020, its desire to make Torreciudad a diocesan sanctuary.
Opus Dei defends the validity of the agreements signed with the predecessor of Bishop Pérez Pueyo and the right to continue promoting devotion to Our Lady of Torreciudad.
A copy would replace the image of the Virgin Mary.
However, the diocese has asked the Holy See "that the original image of the Virgin of Our Lady of the Angels of Torreciudad and the primitive baptismal font of the cathedral of the Diocese of Barbastro be returned to their original places", which would leave the new temple without the Virgin, the main devotional destination of many faithful.
The diocese proposes the installation of a "faithful copy in the new sanctuary" defending that it is a "common praxis" in other Marian complexes. However, it is worth remembering that both the image of the Virgin of the Angels of Torreciudad and the old hermitage are property of the diocese of Barbastro-Monzón, but since 1962 they have been ceded in perpetuity to a civil entity: Desarrollo Social y Cultural, S.A.
As noted in the article published in August 2024 in the same media, one of the points of friction between the bishop of Barbastro-Monzón is the consideration of the validity of this contract, signed between Opus Dei and the bishopric of Barbastro in 1962, in which it was agreed that the useful domain of the hermitage and the image of the Virgin would be transferred in perpetuity.
The return of the original image of the Virgin to the hermitage would mean a declaration of nullity of the agreements signed in the 60's. The bishop of Barbastro Monzón does not recognize the validity of those agreements while Opus Dei defends that they are fully valid and should be the basis for any legal modification. The Bishop of Barbastro Monzón does not recognize the validity of those agreements while Opus Dei defends that they are fully valid and should be the basis for any legal modification.
Legal sources consulted by this newspaper have reiterated on several occasions that, in the civil sphere, it is difficult to defend the nullity of these agreements, which were made following the relevant legal guidelines at all times.
The reality is that in the last 50 years, under the pastoral direction of Opus Dei, devotion to Torreciudad has experienced a growth and expansion unimaginable in the 1960s, when the hermitage was visited by its parishioners about three times a year.
Return of the baptismal font of St. Josemaria
Another "novel" point in this process, which is included in this communiqué from the Aragonese diocese, is the return of the font in which Saint Josemaría received the sacrament of Baptism and which is currently preserved in the atrium of the church of Santa María de la Paz, in Rome, headquarters of Opus Dei, after being ceded by the City Council of Barbastro.
Regarding the return of this font, which was restored due to the damage suffered during the Civil War, the diocese considers it an "act of justice" that "the baptismal font, where so many of our martyrs were baptized and are now in the process of beatification, be returned to the Cathedral Church" of Barbastro.
Opus Dei awaits resolution
In view of this information, the The Prelature of Opus Dei has issued a brief communiqué in which he recalls, along the lines of previous communicationa few days ago, that "the Holy See appointed Bishop Alejandro Arellano plenipotentiary pontifical commissioner to study this question. Throughout these months we have placed ourselves at his total disposal for everything he has required and we are awaiting his resolution".
Monsignor Alejandro Arellano, dean of the Tribunal of the Rota, was chosen by Pope Francis in October 2024 to hear the reasons of both parties and to settle, according to law, an appropriate solution for Torreciudad.
A turbulent fiftieth anniversary
This month of July 2025 will mark the first fiftieth anniversary of the erection of the new church in Torreciudad. For this, several events had been programmed, such as a Mass of Thanksgiving presided over by the prelate of Opus Dei, Fernando Ocáriz. This Eucharistic celebration has been suspended until the desired agreement on Torreciudad is reached.
