Frictions Between the Opus Dei Prelature and the Diocese of Barbastro, with a New Chapter in the Latest Diocesan Statement.
Editorial (07/02/2025, Gaudium Press) – Religión Confidencial has published an extensive report, updating the case of the Torreciudad shrine, a Marian shrine located in Secastilla, Spain, where on an ancient hermitage a new temple and adjacent buildings were constructed at the initiative of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. Around the shrine there have been frictions between the Opus Dei prelature and the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón, in whose territory the sanctuary lies.
The disagreements reached a turning point in mid‑2023 when the bishop of Barbastro, Mons. Ángel Javier Pérez Pueyo, removed the sanctuary’s rector, Fr. Ángel Lasheras of Opus Dei, and appointed another rector, Fr. José Mairal Villelas. At that time, Opus Dei claimed that “it does not correspond to the bishop to carry out this appointment since it is a temple of the Prelature”, as the temple “holds the legal status of an oratory of the Prelature, erected at the time, like all oratories of Opus Dei centers, with the permission (‘venia’) of the Most Reverend Bishop of the diocese.”
Opus Dei then proposed that the rector be appointed by the bishop from a shortlist presented by the prelature—a proposal that was rejected at the time.
Yesterday, the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón issued a statement proposing “that Torreciudad, currently a semi‑public oratory, be officially recognized and canonically erected as an International Shrine, directly dependent on the Holy See,” so that “the aspirations of the Opus Dei Prelature to promote the ‘St. Josemaría Route’ and the ‘International Marian Route’ might thus come to fruition.”
In the statement it is proposed that “the new international shrine enjoy economic independence from the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón and, being directly under the Holy See, it should be the Holy See that audits and approves its accounts, as well as those of the societies and foundations associated with the complex, the diocese renouncing any benefit or remuneration from them.” Furthermore, it requested that “the original image of Our Lady of the Angels of Torreciudad and the original baptismal font of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Barbastro—transferred to the Opus Dei General House in Rome, where many of our Diocese’s martyrs were baptized—be returned to their original places of veneration: the image to the Hermitage shrine, and the font to the Cathedral, in the Pantokrator chapel.”
Some sources describe this statement as surprising to Opus Dei. The prelature replied succinctly, stating that it “has noted the press release by the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón regarding its proposal on Torreciudad. As is known, on October 9, 2024, the Holy See appointed Mons. Alejandro Arellano as Pontifical Representative (Comisario Pontificio Plenipotenciary) to study this matter. Over these months we have made ourselves fully available to everything he has requested and we are awaiting his resolution.” In other words, Opus Dei intends to continue following the established processes of the commission overseeing the shrine.
The Background
Meanwhile, the investigative outlet Religión Confidencial reports on the “context,” or the behind-the-scenes factors in these exchanges.
“There are several circumstances that prompted this position by the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón, which raises the stakes over the Torreciudad case,” says the Spanish outlet.
The first is that, according to Roman sources familiar with the process who spoke with Religión Confidencial, the bishop of Barbastro‑Monzón knew of the report that the Pontifical Representative, Mons. Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, titular archbishop of Bisuldino and dean of the Roman Rota, presented in outline to the Pope on June 3.
These sources affirm that the Pontifical Representative “has been scrupulous in the entire process of investigation, study, and analysis of Torreciudad’s situation. Following Canon Law, he came to a series of conclusions in which at no time could there be winners and losers,” the outlet continues. According to Religión Confidencial, Bishop Pérez Pueyo wished to have a personal meeting with Leo XIV—which has not happened.
Commission’s Work Overlooked
Regarding the proposals and conditions outlined by the Diocese of Barbastro in its July 1 statement, canon lawyers consulted by Religión Confidencial assert that “they call into question the work of the Pontifical Representative, among other reasons because this is not a process of offer‑counteroffer, I like‑I do not like, but an investigation and ruling akin to a judgment whose decision is backed by the Pope.” In fact, the diocesan statement does not mention nor thank the Pontifical Representative. According to Roman sources, the communication’s intention was to make public the new conditions that the bishop of Barbastro was placing before the commission.
“These Roman sources point out that the decision to release the bishop’s new proposal publicly was because he was aware that the Pontifical Representative, once he had submitted the basic lines of his report to the Pope, intended to publish the main conclusions as soon as possible through ordinary channels. Hence the bishop of Barbastro‑Monzón chose to anticipate him,” says Religión Confidencial.
Who Audits the Accounts?
Among the points causing concern in the diocesan statement is the one referring to the Holy See auditing the new international shrine’s accounts: “This point has caused some perplexity in certain circles—not only due to the diocese’s obsession with money, but because reference is made to the need to audit the accounts. It is an exercise that civil foundations legally must do regarding the legal personality underpinning the activities of the Sanctuary. Is this perhaps intended to continue arousing suspicions about economic management?” asks Religión Confidencial.
A Baptismal Font—or Its Pieces
Regarding the baptismal font that the diocese requests be returned to the cathedral: “The baptismal font was smashed with hammers during the Civil War,” according to testimony from the former Vicar General of the Diocese of Barbastro‑Monzón, don Santos Lalueza, “and its remains were thrown into the river. Later these were recovered, and finally taken to Rome.”
By Saúl Castiblanco
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
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