Last Tuesday, La Moncloa, the office of the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, announced more than a hundred cultural activities of various kinds, “that will flood our streets, schools, universities, museums”, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of General Francisco Franco, and highlight the transformation in this half century of democracy and the people & groups that have made that transformation possible.
Under the name ‘Spain in liberty’, we will celebrate this country’s development from “being a poor, isolated dictatorship to one of the world’s fullest democracies. A modern, open and sustainable economy, a tolerant and inclusive society, and an international power, committed to multilateralism, Europeanism and peace”. “If we are here today”, said Pedro Sanchez, “it is because freedom and democracy have triumphed in the end”.
This is a difficult area for any country with a divided past, and the announcement recognises some of the divisions that remain among us. And how should we in this church respond, as Christians, but also – for many of us – as guests in this land. For myself, I want to mourn the lives that were lost unnecessarily, the people who were never given the chance to become all that they could be. I also want to mourn the lost faith of those who could no longer find God in a national Catholic church that aligned itself with one political philosophy.
But let us also stand with today’s Spanish government in wanting to celebrate all that has been done since Franco’s time to improve the quality of people’ lives, including the significant contribution of King Juan Carlos, whom we sometimes forget in the more recent negative publicity that he has attracted, who did more than anyone in the few years after Franco’s death to sow the seeds which allowed today’s new country to take root.
Today Spain is recognised for its remarkable economic success. This year Spain will be the fastest-growing advanced economy in the world, with growth of up to 3%, according to the IMF. See our earlier story here
https://stgeorgesmalaga.com/a-renewed-sense-of-hope-in-northern-ireland-2/
So let us give thanks to God, for this great country and its amazing people who have witnessed – but also driven – such a transformational change. Long may it continue.
See the announcement from La Moncloa