The Consell de Mallorca has kicked off the year of Saint Catherine Tomàs with a series of events in Rome to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the saint’s death. Pope Francis will receive the island’s institution in audience on Wednesday 20 March, together with the Bishopric of Mallorca.
A delegation led by the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés, will highlight the role that the island’s institution has played over the centuries in the process of beatification of the island’s only Mallorcan saint: “the Gran i General Consell was the true promoter of the saint’s beatification and set in motion a whole series of diplomatic efforts and popular events that involved different generations while awaiting the Holy See’s pronouncement”, says Galmés.
One of the examples, says the president, is the parade of the float of the saint, “which is the oldest civil festival in Mallorca and which fostered and consolidated the people’s devotion to the saint”.
Galmés will be accompanied by the vice-president and councillor of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, the councillor of the Presidency, Antoni Fuster, and the island’s director of Culture, Guillem Ginard. In addition, the Mallorcan entourage also includes the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez; the Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull; the Mayor of Santa Margalida Town Council, Joan Monjo, and the Mayor of Valldemossa Town Council, Nadal Torres.
Programme of events for the Saint Catherine Tomàs Year
Tuesday, 19th March
The Mallorcan delegation will be received on Tuesday, 19 March, at 13:30 by the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. Specifically by the ambassador Isabel Celaá. Then, in the afternoon, the Consell de Mallorca will give the conference Arguments and coordinates for a global restoration of the Tomasian myth. The speaker Gabriel Carrió, the bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, and the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés, will take part. It will be held in the Dalí Hall of the Cervantes Institute.
Wednesday, 20th March
Pope Francis will receive in audience the delegation of the Consell de Mallorca on Wednesday morning, 20th March. The main objective of the president of the Consell is to convey the beginning of the year of Saint Catherine Tomàs to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the death of the saint: an event that, he stresses, must be remembered because she is the only Mallorcan saint. For this reason, a set of books has been prepared and will be presented to Pope Francis: Evolució constructiva de la Catedral de Mallorca; Vida abreviada de Santa Catalina Tomassa (Ciutat de Mallorca – 1950); L’ull Viu. Tres Fotògrafs miren Barceló a la Catedral de Mallorca and La farmàcia monàstica de la Reial Cartoixa de Valldemossa.
In addition, during the afternoon, the Mallorcan delegation will be able to make a private visit to the Vatican Apostolic Library and, finally, the bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, will celebrate mass in the church of Santa Maria in Monserrato.
Thursday, 21 March
The official visit to the Basilica of San Prieto in Vincoli is scheduled for Thursday, 21 March, with the abbot general of the Lateran canons regular, Franco Bergamin, and the vicar general, Edward González. The Mallorcan authorities will be able to see the chapel of Moses by Miquel Àngel and the crypt, where the chains of Saint Peter can be seen. In addition, they will also be able to enjoy a special visit not open to the public to the tomb of the Maccabees.
The Consell has prepared a Mallorcan ball de bot show with two pairs of Aires de Andratx and a baritone performance of Tomasian pieces. In this way, the aim is to showcase a part of Mallorcan heritage and at the same time highlight the role played by Santa Catalina Tomàs. To conclude these events for the Year of Santa Catalina Tomàs, Galmés will sign the book of honour of San Pietro in Vincoli.
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