Pope Warns Spanish Bishops of Far-Right Attempts to Co-Opt Church
Pope Leo XIV privately cautioned Spanish Catholic bishops in November about the growing threat of far-right ideology seeking to exploit the Church for political gain, according to details that have recently emerged. The warning prompted a significant shift in the stance of Spain’s bishops within weeks, including reversing course on stalled abuse compensation talks and voicing strong support for the government’s plan to regularize the status of over 500,000 undocumented migrants.
The Pope reportedly cautioned the bishops that extremist movements were attempting to “win the Catholic vote” and manipulate Catholic identity for partisan purposes. While the Vatican meeting did not specifically name any political parties or organizations, the message has resonated deeply within Spain, particularly as it relates to the growing influence of parties like VOX.
The Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE) acknowledged the Pope’s concerns in a brief press statement released Tuesday, stating that Pope Leo XIV spoke “about the risks of submitting faith to ideologies without mentioning any specific group.” This confirmation followed a report in El País detailing the Pope’s warning. Sources familiar with the meeting have indicated to Vida Nueva that Pope Leo XIV specifically alerted the bishops about VOX.
The Pope’s intervention comes at a time of increasing tension between the Church and nationalist forces in Spain. The government’s immigration regularization plan, described as the most generous in Spanish history, has drawn fierce criticism from VOX and other far-right groups. Santiago Abascal, the president of VOX, publicly attacked the bishops for their support of the plan, alleging that some prelates were “doing business with immigration.” He dismissed the Pope’s warning as “an invention of a bishop who collaborates with immigration.”
The backlash extended beyond verbal criticism. Falange Española de las JONS, another far-right group, circulated a digitally altered video on social media depicting the president of the Spanish bishops as a demonic figure, accusing the Conference of being more aligned with “the devil than with the poor.”
Pope Leo XIV’s concern reflects a broader effort to combat polarization both within and outside the Church. The rise of far-right anti-immigration rhetoric is seen as a significant risk, and the Pope has reportedly faced direct attacks from ultraconservative online portals, including campaigns attempting to discredit him with allegations of covering up abuse cases.
These attacks reportedly originated in Peru, stemming from the Pope’s decision to dissolve the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, a powerful ultraconservative group accused of numerous cases of sexual abuse and financial corruption. According to a cardinal who spoke with El País, “I have seen with my own eyes these groups delivering pamphlets in Rome against Prevost.” A Vatican source confirmed that the Pope views these groups as a “real concern.”
The Pope is aware that he was not the preferred candidate of the most conservative elements within the conclave and remains under scrutiny as he navigates a path between tradition and reform. Sources indicate that he is proceeding cautiously, aware that a new offensive against him could be launched at any time. “But he studies the situation and when he acts, he acts,” one source explained.
