Mons. Argüello: Conclave will choose the successor of Pope Francis who will follow his pattern

The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Mons. Luis Argüello, has expressed his confidence that the future bishop of Rome, after the death of Pope Francis, follows “the guideline that the Church has begun” with the Argentine pontiff.

During one Public appearance held in the archbishopric of Valladolid, the Spanish Prelate said that the next successor of Peter, “will follow the pattern that the Church has begun with Francisco, reinforcing the great lines of the Second Vatican Council.”

“The missionary communion at this time of great social and cultural change I think it has come to stay,” he added.

The president of the CEE added that “surely the conclave gives us a surprise”, an approach with which, he clarified, does not seek to make a speculative pronouncement, but to express “a great hope that the future bishop of Rome will be the Pope that the Church precise for this moment of social life, of life, of the world that is uniquely challenging.”

In a message disseminated before the press conference, the archbishop of Valladolid also echoed “of so many Catholics, of the Church in Valladolid, of the Church in Spain, that we feel the loss of Pope Francis that in the midst of tears we live in this Easter experience to trust the strength of the resurrection of the Lord and thus be able to continue looking with hope to walk the church.”

“What joy to be able to experience at this time the Easter of the Lord and that the tears of death can be lived at the same time with the hope that Pope Francis has summoned the Church, especially in this jubilee year,” he added.

For his part, the secretary general of the EEC, Mons. César Fernando García Magán, stressed that Pope Francis’s pontificate has been characterized by what was expressed by San Pablo: “Very comfortable I will spend and wear out for all of you.”

In relation to the call of Pope Francis to be “witnesses of hope” on the occasion of the ordinary jubilee 2025, Mons. García Magán pointed out his confidence that for the Argentine pontiff “that hope has been made vision of the face of Jesus and of communion with God the Father.”

As a summary of the pontificate, the Episcopal spokesman highlighted his concern for “primera the church in exit”, the merciful aspect present in his pontifical motto, the look towards the “existential peripheries”, “Remove the Church self -referentiality”, the call to avoid the culture of discard and “the impulse to synodality as an expression of communion.”

The government decrees three days of official mourning

The Government of Spain has decreed three days of official mourning and its Minister of Presidency and Foreign Affairs, Félix Bolaños, appeared To affirm that the Executive regrets “the death of a good man and a great pope.”

Bolaños has highlighted his “fight against climate change” and his “concern for all who are in the peripheries”, which is why the government of Socialcommunist Coalition “has always felt so close their work and values.”

“He knew the reality of our country. He loved us and we loved him and what his papacy has meant.”

President Pedro Sánchez has also expressed his condolences to through social network Xunderlining that “leave a deep legacy.”

Condolence messages from different Spanish bishops

Numerous members of the Spanish Episcopate have expressed their condolences for the death of Pope Francis since the news was known to the edge of ten in the morning in Spain.

• Cardinal Juan José Omella, archbishop of Barcelona: “He has died with his boots put. Until the end he has endured, because he had his head very well and wanted to continue being close to the people he loved so much and with whom he felt so comfortable.”

• Mons. José María Gil Tamayo, Archbishop of Granada: “We supplicate God for his eternal rest and raise our thanksgiving for his life and ministry in the selfless service of the Church. The Lord Jesus has blessed the Church in this historical hour with a great pontiff, defender of the poor and of peace, as well as a promoter of the ecclesial participation of all the people of God.”

• Mons. José Ángel Saiz Meneses, Archbishop of Seville: “He has given us a testimony of a deep spirituality and a prophetic word; he has taught us to live the gospel with fidelity, with courage and with an unlimited love, especially in favor of the poorest and more small. Rest in peace.

• Mons. Jesús Sanz Montes, Archbishop of Oviedo: “Not as expected the news stops moving, when someone close and dear as Pope Francis has been called by God to his presence.”

• Mons. Francisco Cerro, Archbishop of Toledo: “His life, an example of a good and faithful pastor, has been a real gift for the church. I invite to pray, for whom so much love and closeness has shown us.”

• Mons. Francisco Prieto, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela: “With the Lord’s Easter, Pope Francis has lived his definitive Easter. Who was called to serve God and the Church in this time change made the joy of the Gospel close.”

• Mons. Mario Iceta, archbishop of Burgos: “For very fertile years he wanted to put in the center of the Church the favorites of God, those who live in existential peripheries (…). He showed his concern for rural Spain for the places where they always need that presence of God.”

• Mons. José Ignacio Munilla, Bishop of Orihuela-Aliante: “Give it, Lord, the eternal rest, and shine for him perpetual light! (…) As Pope Francis himself said: ‘The mission consists in experiencing the consolation and giving it to the people’ … Mission fulfilled, Holy Father !!”.

• Mons. Juan Carlos Elizalde, Bishop of Vitoria: “Until the end, tireless and close. We appreciate the ministry and the life delivered of our beloved Pope Francis.”

• Mons. Ginés García Beltrán, Bishop of Getafe: “He Pope Francis is already in the father’s house. Thanks for these 12 years of pontificate, thanks for all your teaching, for your gestures and words! ”

• Mons. Rafael Zornoza, Cadiz-Feeta Obisho: “Let’s pray for who has been a defender of the radicality of the Gospel and tireless fighter in the defense of those in need. Rest in the peace of the Lord of Mercy he preached.”

• Mons. Luis Ángel de las Heras, Bishop of León: “On a trip to Rome for the diocesan jubilee pilgrimage scheduled for these days, we join the universal condolences for the death of Francisco and thank you for its surrender to God and the Church inviting us to first first often the poor.”

• Mons. Jesús Fernández González, elected bishop of Córdoba: “Pope Francis, a deeply human and believer man, has tended bridges, has opted for peace, has put himself on the side of the emigrants, the poor and excluded. Rest in peace!”