Barcelona, Spain. The late Claretian Bishop, Msgr. Pere Casaldàliga, CMF, received on January 27, 2022, a posthumous Gold Medal for Civic Merit from the City Council of Barcelona. It is in recognition of his permanent fight against abuses of power and exploitation and his strong commitment to the indigenous peoples’ social justice, equality, and dignity.
During the awarding ceremony, Albert Batlle, the councilor and fifth Deputy Mayor of the consistory, stressed that Casaldaliga and the other awardee, Fr. Manel Pousa i Engroñat, were two good people in the purest sense of the word, and it is never enough to thank them for what they have done in their lifetime.
Before the audience in the Saló de Cent of the Barcelona City Hall, Batlle highlighted their strong will in helping others change their situation, denounce and eradicate the injustices that generated poverty and marginalization.
“They rebelled against marginalization. They did not keep quiet in front of the powerful, they did not lower their heads, they did not ignore them, this is their extraordinary value. They were inconvenient to many people. And their spirituality and faith were the indisputable driving force of their work.”
Moreover, the Deputy Mayor also highlighted Casaldàliga’s mission in Brazil.
“The bishop stood by the side of the indigenous communities defending their land. He never returned home again, and he became one of them.”
“The Christian faith was inseparable from his work,” concluded Batlle, who also highlighted the work of the Pere Casaldàliga Foundation and ANSA in maintaining his struggle.
(Text based on the Sanctus Paulus provincial website)
