Cardinal Cobo defends his role in the resignification of the Valley of the Fallen

The archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal José Cobo, defended his role as an interlocutor between the Vatican and the Spanish government in the process of resigning of the Valley of the Fallen.

The statement, published after the recent prior change in the Benedictine community, seeks to clarify the agreements achieved and the scope of the modifications provided for in the monument

In a communication Issued after 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday (local time of Spain), the Archdiocese of Madrid lamented “the filtration and dissemination of some recently published information about the resignification of the Valley of the Fallen, within an open process of dialogue.”

The concept of “resignification”, in the case of historical or symbolic spaces such as the Valley of the Fallen, seeks to reinterpret or redefine its meaning to adapt it to new contexts, perspectives, or purposes.

The text of the Archdiocese of Madrid points out that “to date, the only thing definitely agreed has been the permanence of the Benedictine community and the non -desacralization of the basilica, as well as respect for all religious elements located outside it.”

However, the statement admits that some kind of modification in the temple would have been agreed, which has not been specified: “In relation to interventions within the temple, they will be studied respecting the liturgical criteria and the end for which the basilica has been erected, guaranteeing independent access.”

On the other hand, the archdiocese affirms that “any other aspect related to resignification is the exclusive competence of the Holy See and the Government, which are the parties that have carried out negotiations.”

In addition, it is emphasized that the purple Spanish “has participated in this process as an interlocutor designated within an ecclesial commission”, which has led to “an exchange of private notes on how to articulate the resignification of the Valley of the Fallen, always guaranteeing respect for the religious elements and the permanence of the cult in the basilica.”

Finally, the Archdiocese of Madrid emphasizes that, “beyond pastoral activity”, the role of Cardinal Cobo is “accompaniment, but without having jurisdiction over the basilica or on the religious community that resides there.”

The statement occurred just two hours after The newspaper.es published that there had been an agreement between the Vatican and the Government of Spain to access the alleged “resignification” of the monument.

This agreement, in whose process Cardinal Cobo would have participated, would have closed in a meeting between Cardinal Pietro Parolin Secretary and the Minister of Presidency, Félix Bolaños, on February 25 in Rome.

In response to this statement, the users who have responded with accusations of betrayal and other against Cardinal Cobo have been numerous.

Changes inside the Pontifical Basilica

The recent relay of the prior in the Benedictine community, confirmed on Tuesday, would be part of the agreement reached and it is not ruled out that both the previous prior, Santiago Cantera, as well as another of the monks, are transferred from community because it is not to the pleasure of the Government of Spain.

According to the same information, it is expected that only the altar and the benches are preserved, but that changes in the dome, the lobby, the atrium and the ship can be made, which are part of the Pontifical Basilica of the Holy Cross.

Brief History of the Valley of the Fallen

The Valley of the Fallen is a monumental complex built after the Spanish Civil War 50 kilometers from Madrid, which consists of an underground basilica excavated in the mountain, an imposing Cruz, a Benedictine monastery, a school and a monumental viacrucis.

Among the foundational purposes of the monument is to “beg God for the souls of the dead in the National Crusade, imperate the blessings of the Most High for Spain and work for the knowledge and implementation of peace among men, on the basis of Christian social justice.”

Between 33,000 and 50,000 Spaniards of both sides are buried in the place. In 1975, King Juan Carlos decided to bury General Francisco Franco in the place, where the founder of the Spanish Falange, José Antonio Primo de Rivera, was already buried.

Since 2007, the socialist government chaired by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero launched a series of measures to resignify the place, which have been reinforced since 2018 with the arrival of the government of also socialist Pedro Sánchez, supported by communist parties, separatists and heirs of terrorist groups.

In October 2019, the Government forced Franco to exhume the remains of Franco and transfer them to another cemetery, in an act broadcast live on public television.

In 2023, the same procedure was followed with those of Primo de Rivera, but at the request of the family and discreetly, to anticipate the wishes of the government