Pope Francis receives the seminary of the Diocese of Getafe on its 30th anniversary

This Saturday, Pope Francis receives a private visit to the Our Lady of the Apostles Seminary of the Diocese of Getafe (Spain) in the Clementina Room of the Apostolic Palace on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its launch.

Through a videomensajethe Bishop of Getafe, Mons. Ginés García Beltrán has stated that “the Pope has seen fit to receive us in private audience and share with us what is in his heart”, a quote that he considers “fundamental”, since he constitutes himself as “the center of the celebration of this important anniversary for our diocese.”

This is the reason why the prelate assures that they have gone to Rome “with an open heart to listen to what the Pope wants to tell us, the recommendations that the Pope wants to give us, but above all to meet him and be able to reiterate our filial adhesion. , to be able to reiterate our union with him and the need we have to work together with the entire Church.”

Along with the seminarians and Bishop García, the auxiliary Bishop, Bishop José María Avendaño, also came to Rome; the rector of the Major Seminary, Cruz Gonzalo López Palomo; his vice-rector, Gabriel Muñoz; the trainers and spiritual directors, the rector of the Minor Seminary, Miguel Díaz; and the vice chancellor secretary, Guillermo Fernández.

The Getafe Seminary was erected in 1992, one year after the diocese, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Madrid, was created. The first course was made up of 39 seminarians who began their studies in a former school of the Missionary Crusades of the Church in the town of Cubas de la Sagra.

In 1994 it moved to Cerro de los Ángeles, the geographic center of the country, where the largest monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Spain is located.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, the Major Seminary of Getafe has had 57 candidates for the priesthood.