King Felipe VI arrives in Montserrat amid protests by the ANC

MontserratKing Felipe VI will arrive in Catalonia this Monday to visit the Montserrat Abbey, a symbol of Catalan nationalism and where the country's patron saint is venerated. This visit has prompted protests at the monastery led by the Catalan National Assembly (ANC). The organization denounced the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Mossos) confiscated esteladas (an estelada flag) from demonstrators who gathered at Montserrat to protest the visit. "This is your freedom of expression!" the organization denounced, lamenting that they are "complicit in the repressive regime" in order to "defend their monarchy."

Despite the ANC's complaint, upon arrival at Montserrat, the ARA confirmed that the police did not search those who boarded the rack railway to the monastery. The protesters who were allegedly searched for esteladas (flagships) departed at six in the morning from three different points in the Montserrat valley. A fourth column of two hundred people joined the rack railway parking lot in Monistrol, where they were searched by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), but no esteladas were confiscated.

The monarch is going to speak at an event with several monks, including the abbot of Montserrat, Manel Gasch, who has formally invited him following the Benedictine precepts of welcome and inclusion, and following the good manners of the request from the Royal Household to attend one of the thousand events. as already explained by AHORAThe president of the ANC, Lluís Llach, attacked the abbot: "We don't understand his attitude with this invitation," he said. However, he emphasized that Montserrat "goes far beyond the rights or wrongs of the authorities who govern it," after recalling that it is "one of the most emblematic symbols of the Catalan nation." The head of the organization asserted that the demonstration against the visit of Felipe VI aims to prevent the monarch from "normally strolling" through the abbey, following his stance against the 1-O referendum, in which he advocated for a hard line. "He positioned himself against the citizens of Catalonia and encouraged repression against our people," he asserted.

The monastery is heavily guarded by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), and in fact, only those who have made a reservation or stayed overnight, such as the president of the Council of the Republic, Jordi Domingo, are allowed into the basilica. "He doesn't deserve the flag he's carrying."

The Mossos d'Esquadra have detained, assaulted, identified, and reported a member of the Assembly for assaulting an officer who was helping an elderly man who fell to the ground after being pushed by the police.

The protesters were expelled from the square for being directed away from the area closest to the basilica and began whistling at guests arriving at the event, such as the CEO of Banco Sabadell, Josep Oliu, and the president of the Círculo Ecuestre, Enric Lacalle.

Former President Carles Puigdemont also criticized the monarchs' visit: "The Spanish monarchs' self-invitation to Montserrat is a provocation, and they know it. It's part of the plan to Spanish-ize the country, and they are aware of it both in Madrid and on both sides of the Plaza de Sant Jaume, who are collaborating enthusiastically," he added.

Rebuilding ties: the monarchy's goal

With this visit, the monarch, whose entourage stated that he was seeking a setting that would not "inflame" the atmosphere, aims to reestablish ties with the Principality in one of its most symbolic places. With the help of the abbey, the head of state will give a speech from the Basilica of Montserrat that resonates differently now than any king could have done at any time, particularly marked by the emotional rift produced by Felipe VI's speech on October 3, 2017, which was particularly harsh against the independence movement.

A rejection that has been noted by the Spiritual League of the Virgin of Montserrat, promoted by illustrious Catalan Catholics such as Bishop Josep Torras i Bages and Father Jacint Verdaguer. But also the ANC, who this Monday demonstrated against it, with marches intended to say that the monarch "is not welcome" in the country or in Montserrat, "an indisputable symbol of the collective identity of our people."

Montserrat has been linked to Catalonia and the defense of its language, culture, and national rights since the rise of Catalan nationalism in the 19th century, becoming a bastion beyond the pilgrimage site it has been for over a thousand years. "Montserrat and Catalonia are separable," wrote the late historians and monks Anselm Maria Albareda and Josep Massot inHistory of Montserrat. He Catholic Catalanism took root there And, in fact, in 1881, coinciding with the celebration of the millennium of the discovery of the Virgin, he succeeded in getting Pope Leo XIII to proclaim the Moreneta as the patron saint of Catalonia, with April 27th as its own day. A scenario that resulted in the State having two patron saints recognized by the Holy See, a unique one for the Principality.

The day in which the king will participate focuses on Benedictine values and how their application in various countries has allowed for conflict resolution. Dedicated to Abbot Oliba, founder of the monastery and who played a key role in Catalan politics in the 11th century, the event was planned from the beginning for the millennium and has been incorporated by Felipe VI, who will speak after the monks. The abbot of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Donato Ogliari; the abbot president of the Benedictine Congregation Sublancenca Cassinesa, Father Ignasi Fossas; as well as Father Abbot Manel Gasch will take part.