Pope Francis is scheduled to hold a private audience with the lords mayor of the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain to mark the 30th anniversary of its establishment. The meeting of the representatives of the consortium comprising the 15 cities acclaimed by UNESCO for their unparalleled universal values will occur this Saturday, April 13, in the private library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, as revealed by the Pontifical House Prefecture yesterday.
The chairman of the Group and mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, lodged a request with the Holy See earlier this year proposing the possibility for the Supreme Pontiff to receive a delegation from the Heritage Cities in line with this milestone anniversary. This initiative has come to fruition, as the Pope will host all 15 mayors in a private audience, marking a historic occasion for these cities and a highlight of our anniversary celebration program,” emphasised the top leader yesterday.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez stresses that “a considerable portion of the monumental heritage in our cities consists of a significant number of churches, cathedrals, chapels, and other religious architectural specimens that enrich our historic cores. Hence, this visit to Pope Francis holds great significance for the Group.”
“We are extremely grateful to you for granting us this private audience in a particularly momentous year for our cities, as we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our heritage legacy, promoting its dissemination and knowledge, and enhancing its international profile,” added the Group’s president.
Likewise, the highest representative of the Catholic Church expressed satisfaction with “the platform and recognition it provides to the 15 Spanish cities of peace, unity, and harmony, embodying the advocacy of universal values. Together with the Pope, we dedicate all our efforts to the preservation of culture and heritage as vital benchmarks in a world where consensus and understanding triumph over hostility. Our 15 cities demonstrate, across history and the last 30 years, that collaborative work and accord contribute to creating a better world.”
As part of this visit, the city councillors will also meet with the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, in the main hall of the Campidoglio on the same Saturday afternoon. “We deemed it fitting to request this meeting with the mayor of a city renowned internationally for its exceptional heritage, aiming to exchange experiences and establish ties between both administrations,” mentioned Luis Yeray Gutiérrez.
“We, as the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain, are particularly keen on acquiring insights into actions and operational practices in areas we have in common, like the management of historical heritage or the various international tourism promotion activities they are currently pursuing,” said their president during this phase.
The journey is dedicated to commemorating the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Group, extended until September. The programme encompasses the special concert held on March 8 at the Cathedral of La Laguna, attended by Queen Sofía, and the coordination of various events.
The Group was established in 1993 as a non-profit association (acknowledged by the Ministry of the Interior as being of public utility), with the objective of collectively defending the historical and cultural heritage of these cities, and upholding and enhancing specific ways of life that these centres require, through joint projects and the formulation of exchange experience policies. La Laguna joined in 1999, adding its name to the list of Alcalá de Henares, Ávila, Baeza, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Mérida, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Tarragona, Toledo, and Úbeda.
