The decrease in reports of child abuse last year, and the hope that the visit of Pope Leo XIV will reduce “the tone of polarization in Spanish socio-political life” and provoke “the conversion of hearts to the Lord”, were two of the issues discussed at the final press conference of the Plenary of the Bishops' Conference.
Along with them, there was still a lack of information on the confirmed events of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain, “except for Cibeles”, and national political issues, such as migration, were discussed.
“Hopefully the Pope's trip that love of neighbor and the life of charity may increase, that vocations to love may increase in all its dimensions, and that there may be a conversion of hearts to the Lord. We do not expect a success in the number of people, which will happen. We do not measure or quantify by that nor by the economic issue; it is what the Pope's message, his magisterium can bring not only to Catholics but to the whole of Spanish society, to men and women of good will even if they are not Christians”, Garcia Magán stressed.
“The Church does not move with slogans.”
One of the topics that came up in the conference with journalists was the ‘national priority’ proposed by Vox, together with the situation of migrants.
«We are in an era where politics moves with slogans and advertising claims that seek polarization and serve to criticize other parties. The Church does not move at the level of slogans, neither this one nor any other. The reality of the Church is broader, richer and less so when one side wants to eliminate the other”.
“Our priority is the Gospel, and it is based on two principles: the dignity of the human person, which is untouchable, unrenounceable and cannot be reduced, and the common good of society as a whole (...). And the common good of society as a whole (...) The Gospel criterion is above all other considerations and the Church is committed to being close to all», said the bishop.
Asked about the criticisms of the president of Vox, Santiago Abascal, to the bishop of the Canary Islands for illegal immigration, he said that “they are not based on truth, but on falsehood, even in a sphere of insults».
Traveling by cayuco
Regarding migrants, the Secretary General supported the statements of Bishop Mazuelos. “The Church of the Canary Islands touches every day the drama of people who have to travel in cayuco. It would be a good journalistic report or radio podcast and they could do it to understand this and see if Mazuelo's words have veracity or not,” he has suggested.
Abuses, less testimonies/complaints last year
The 262 Offices for the Protection of Minors dependent on the Spanish dioceses and congregations in Spain received 93 testimonies or denunciations of sexual abuse last year, a figure lower than the 146 cases presented in the previous year. With these 93 complaints, the total number rises to 1,131 in five years.
On the other hand, the EEC has prepared a draft decree, adapted to the reform of Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which is to be revised in the Vatican, and which contemplates monetary fines, but not only in relation to abuses, nor only to clerics, but also to lay people.
Among other figures, the bishops report that during 2025, 465,465 people (including 363,060 minors; 34,175 teachers; 32,310 parents; 19,265 pastoral agents, leisure time monitors and catechists; 7,712 priests and religious; and 1,388 seminarians and religious in formation) have received training for the prevention of abuse and protection of minors. The total number, close to half a million, is increasing.
The Ombudsman reports to Parliament
On the subject of child abuse and the statements of Minister Felix Bolaños -‘the State decides the compensation and the Church pays’- the bishop and secretary general Garcia Magan wanted to expand. “In those statements there are a series of inaccuracies that are not exactly as stated”.
“It was said that the Church was now starting to pay which is not true because it has been paying for years, be it through the courts; the dioceses and congregations have paid even in agreements outside the judicial sphere, there were structures in place before this agreement with the Government, there were the 220 reparation offices, the PRIVA is working and continues to work without a problem and has provided that reparation.”.
The Church works “in a concept of integral reparation, to meet the needs of each victim, not only at an economic level” “The compensation is paid by the Church if there is no judicial process, as the Church has imposed on itself. The agreement says that if there is no agreement in the first two instances, the Ombudsman decides, which is a free institution that does not work for the Government, it reports to Parliament”.
On this point, reiterating the independence of the current Ombudsman, Angel Gabilondo, he has insisted on several occasions.
Other matters
Among other topics, García Magán was also asked about the process of re-signification of the Valley of the Fallen, and his answer was the same at various times: “It is not a matter within the competence of this Conference”.
On the advancement of Christian initiation, or the proposal of a ministry of charity (in addition to those of lector, acolyte and catechist), you can see the final note of the Plenary Assembly. The next episcopal meeting will take place at the end of June, after the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain.
Español 
English 
Italiano