The 126th Plenary Assembly of Spanish bishops concludes

This Friday the 126th Plenary Assembly of the Spanish bishops concluded, the conclusions of which were presented at a press conference by the general secretary, Mons. Francisco García Magán, at the headquarters of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.

The prelate began his speech to journalists by remembering the DANA tragedy in Valencia and the Mass celebrated within the framework of the assembly on November 19 for the 219 fatalities and all those affected.

Protection of minors in the Church

The Coordination and Advisory Service of the Offices for the Protection of Minors has conveyed to the Spanish bishops the conclusions after holding seven training meetings where nearly 1,400 people from various areas of the Church have participated to protect minors in ecclesial environments.

Mons. García Magán remarked that “evangelization involves the care and protection of minors and the vulnerable.” In this context, the bishops were also informed about the progress of the Reparation Advisory Commission, approved last July, including the guide for applications and the form promoted by the reparation plan for victims of abuse known as PRIVA.

Furthermore, the Auxiliary Bishop of Toledo also stated that “the Church has already come a long way” in this area and that, although “perhaps we have arrived late, we have made a way.”

Regarding the report on abuses in the Church presented on November 21 by the Ombudsman, Bishop García Magán emphasized that “the Ombudsman himself recognized that the Church is already taking many steps. “It has launched many initiatives that were already included in the recommendations.”

He also highlighted that “there are already dioceses that have already paid compensation” to victims of abuse, and recalled that “the advisory commission was created to provide comprehensive reparation to the victims even though their cases have expired.”

Synodality, Jubilee 2025 and National Vocations Congress

The Spanish bishops have also put on the table the Assembly of the Synod of Synodality held in Rome last October and tried to respond, from the final document, “what calls we receive to grow in missionary Communion”, especially in the area of the Episcopal Conference.

The Secretary General also reported on the initiatives promoted for the preparation of the Church in Spain in view of the Jubilee 2025, as well as the National Vocations Congress.

This event, titled “Who Am I For? Assembly of calls to the mission”, will be held in Madrid from February 7 to 9.

The president of the CEE, Mons. Luis Argüello, as responsible for the Vocational Pastoral Service, has advanced some information about the preparation of this Congress, which aims to be a “great celebration” of the Church to revive in the People of God the desire and need for vocations.

Seminar reform

The bishops have also discussed the final document of the plan to implement the criteria for the reform of seminaries in Spain. Mons. Jesús Vidal, Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid, transferred the final version to the Plenary, which will be sent to Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Clergy.

Likewise, Bishop Argüello and the president of the Episcopal Subcommission for Universities and Culture, Bishop Juan Antonio Martínez Camino, have reported on the proposal of the Dicastery for Catholic Education for the restructuring of theological institutes and higher institutes of religious sciences.

Following the indications of the Vatican dicastery, the Plenary has approved the creation of an Episcopal Commission to coordinate the study carried out by bishops and experts on this issue.