Four hundred people went to the Valencia Cathedral this Monday to pay tribute to the more than 200 fatalities that DANA left in its wake on October 29. Relatives, neighbors and friends of the deceased who have been accompanied by the kings of Spain, Felipe and Letizia. It is the third time that the monarchs have traveled to the region to accompany those affected, those who have listened, consoled and embraced after the tragedy.
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia arrived at the cathedral shortly before seven in the afternoon and were received by Archbishop Monsignor Enrique Benavent of Valencia and a representation of the Chapter. They did so with a serious gesture and dressed completely in black, a sign of mourning that was also shared by the Virgin of the Forsaken, brought to the temple early this Monday with her purple cloak as a sign of sadness. Hundreds of citizens have received them with warm applause and shouts of “Long live the King!” have been heard.
Inside the temple, the kings have occupied a privileged place next to the main altar, where two red chairs have been arranged for them, while the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, and the leadership of the Popular Party, who have entered the cathedral through the back door to avoid incidents, they have occupied the first rows. The absence of Pedro Sánchez was striking, as he excused himself arguing that it was not a state funeral but rather a tribute organized exclusively by the Church. Representatives of the Executive were present, such as the first vice president of the Government and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero; or the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres.
The mass has been concelebrated by the parish priests and priests of ground zero, Valencian Bishops, the Episcopal Council and the Cabildo de la Seo. The ceremony lasted about 50 minutes in which the Choir performed, with organ accompaniment, the ordinary of the mass (Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus) for the dead in Gregorian. It is expected that, once the mass is over, the Kings will come to greet and convey their condolences to the families of the deceased.
Constant support
This is the third visit of the Kings to Valencia after the tragedy. The first was on November 3, just four days after DANA passed. They went to Paiporta, one of the most affected areas, where they experienced a tense moment due to criticism from some neighbors for the management of the disaster. Later, on November 19, they visited the towns of Chiva, Utiel (Valencia) and Letur (Albacete), where they met with victims and rescue teams. Alone, the King was also on November 12 at the military bases where the armed forces involved in relief and reconstruction work operate.
In addition, the monarchs have dedicated themselves personally to the cause. Both have met on several occasions with organizations and committees to learn first-hand how aid was managed and what the needs of all those affected were. The queen, specifically, has also supported the small businesses affected by making their products visible (jewelry and textiles from Mía Moda, Sure, Singularu…) in her last official appearances.
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