Kings of Spain preside over a Catholic funeral for the dead of COVID-19

USPA NEWS - On Monday, the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid hosted a funeral for the Coronavirus dead, organized by the Spanish Episcopal Conference and chaired by the Royal Family. The Spanish Government was represented by its first Vice President, Carmen Calvo, since President Pedro Sánchez was in Portugal this Monday, holding a meeting with the Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa.

The funeral was also attended by the Presidents of Congress and the Senate, the President of the General Council of the Judicial Power, civil and military authorities, leaders of various political parties such as the conservative Popular Party, representatives of the health and emergency services that carry out their work in front line against the pandemic, and relatives of those killed by COVID-19. The funeral was chaired by Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoro, and was concelebrated by 32 bishops and six cardinals, including the Archbishop of Barcelona and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Juan José Omella. The Pope's Nuncio in Spain also attended.

Cardinal Juan José Omella was the first to speak to remember those killed by COVID-19 and all those who, not being victims of the Coronavirus, could not be dismissed by their families due to the confinement decreed in Spain between 14 March and June 21. The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference appealed to hope in God, after acknowledging that the pain and despair of family members fill the first moments after death and are understandable. But God "does not leave his children alone," recalled later, during the Homily, the Archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoro.

The Spanish Catholic Church "prays for the deceased and their families, but also for the health workers, the police and firefighters, and for all those who are giving their all" on the front line against the Coronavirus, said Cardinal Omella, who maintains a good tune with King Felipe VI. The Kings, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia, in rigorous mourning and wearing sanitary masks, like all those attending the funeral, presided over the religious celebration, which they endowed with an institutional character that was denied by the Government of the socialist Pedro Sánchez. The Spanish Government will hold a state funeral on the 16th, also chaired by the Kings of Spain.