Spanish Bishops Clarify Pope’s Comments on Political "Ideologies"
The executive commission of the Spanish bishops’ conference has issued a formal clarification regarding Pope Leo XIV’s recent remarks, following media reports that he specifically targeted far-right political parties.
In a statement released Feb. 24, 2026, the bishops addressed an audience held with the Pope on Nov. 17. They clarified that while the Holy Father did discuss the dangers of "subjecting faith to ideologies," he did so in general terms and "without mentioning any specific group."
Addressing the "Weaponization" Claims
The clarification comes in response to a report by the Spanish newspaper El País, which alleged that Pope Leo XIV had explicitly warned against the far-right "weaponizing" or "instrumentalizing" the Church to capture Catholic voters.
The bishops' statement emphasized their "respect and adherence" to the Pope, focusing on his broader call for evangelizing communion rather than specific political rebukes.
Context of the Friction
The tension between the Church and political factions in Spain has been mounting over several key issues:
Immigration: The bishops recently supported a government plan to regularize 500,000 unauthorized migrants, drawing sharp criticism from the far-right party VOX.
Religious Freedom: In August 2025, VOX leader Santiago Abascal criticized the bishops for opposing measures that would have restricted Muslim religious events, accusing the Church of prioritizing public funding over national identity.
Historical Rhetoric: Bishop Francisco César García Magán recently lamented that certain "self-proclaimed Catholics" are reviving hostile slogans against the Church reminiscent of the early 20th century.
The Commission’s Stance
Led by Archbishop Luis Argüello and Cardinal José Cobo, the nine-member commission reiterated that the November meeting with the Pope was characterized by "special affection." They noted that the Holy Father encouraged them to remain committed to their evangelizing mission and to maintain unity among all Church institutions amidst Spain's current social challenges.
https://www.conferenciaepiscopal.es/nota-de-la-comision-ejecutiva-sobre-la-noticia-publicada-por-el-pais/
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