Santi Taboada
While the dispute between Opus Dei and the Diocese of Barbastro over the statue of Our Lady of Torreciudad remains unresolved, the sanctuary hosted its annual Marian Day for Families, drawing thousands of faithful.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Alejandro Arellano, the plenipotentiary commissioner sent by Pope Francis to help resolve the disputes surrounding Torreciudad.
The diocesan bishop, Ángel Pérez Pueyo, was not there. Instead, he issued a new statement on Friday, September 11.
This diocese (...) cannot accept a fait accompli involving something so dear to it, which belonged to it for more than a thousand years until it was taken away fifty years ago.
But the statement’s biggest revelation was its accusation that Opus Dei removed the image without authorization from the bishop of Barbastro at the time, Bishop Ambrosio Echebarría.
That contradicts Opus Dei’s version of events, which maintains there was never a dispute with previous bishops. It also raises the question of why this information took nearly four years to come to light.
Pérez Pueyo also says the original agreement stipulated “that the image not be removed from the chapel.”
But that agreement dates back to 1962, when Opus Dei had no plans to build a sanctuary at Torreciudad. The disputed agreement would be the one from 1966, which has not been preserved. What does exist is the notarial record, which Opus Dei has made public.
If, as Pérez Pueyo puts it, the image was unlawfully taken, nothing would prevent the bishop from taking the case to court. It would not be the first time. In 2019, the Bishop of Barbastro filed a claim against the Diocese of Lleida, seeking the return of about a hundred works of art. So far, however, he has not taken that route in this case.
In short, the standoff continues. The Prelature says everything was done properly, citing its notarial record, while the diocese insists it has no documentary evidence of a permanent transfer of the statue.
As Arellano arrived for the Family Day, the sanctuary’s signature event. He struck a conciliatory tone and did not mention the dispute. His homily began with applause from the faithful for Bishop Pérez Pueyo.
MONS. ALEJANDRO ARELLANO
Plenipotentiary Commissioner for Torreciudad
Although he cannot be with us personally today, I want to send an affectionate greeting to the bishop of this diocese, Ángel Pérez Pueyo.
The rector of Torreciudad thanked Archbishop Arellano for attending and announced that he would travel to Rome. Whether that trip is to make a decision remains to be seen.
Whatever the decision, it will not be easy, after the Spanish newspaper El País published letters in which the late Pope Francis allegedly expressed his support for the bishop.
However, it may not be that simple. Pope Francis could have ruled directly in favor of the bishop instead of sending Arellano.
For the new pope, Leo XIV, this will be a difficult decision, one that would leave one side or the other dissatisfied.
The final decision that could calm tensions while remaining neutral might be to make Torreciudad an international shrine. That way, it would answer neither to the diocese nor to Opus Dei, but to the Holy See: essentially, a compromise that gives neither side everything it wants.
