El Hierro’s President Declines Invitation to Papal Reception
President Alpidio Armas’ Disappointment
The President of the Cabildo of El Hierro, Alpidio Armas, has announced that he will not attend the reception for Pope León XIV in Tenerife, having not received an invitation to the event. Armas describes the situation as “absurd” and criticises the oversight of the island in the papal visit. He stated, “The concern that the President of the Cabildo of El Hierro has regarding the pope is the same as that of the Pope regarding the people of El Hierro.”
No Attendance at Reception or Mass
The island’s president confirmed that he will not be attending either the reception or the mass to be held by the pope in Tenerife. He elaborated that he had not received an invitation to participate in the reception, unlike other cabildo presidents who will be present. “I have not been invited, contrary to other presidents of cabildos from the eastern islands who will attend the reception,” Armas stated.
Exclusion of El Hierro from the Agenda
For Armas, this situation highlights a lack of attention towards El Hierro during Pope León XIV’s visit to the Canary Islands. He believes the island was neither considered nor valued in the institutional agenda. The president succinctly expressed his frustration, concluding that this decision reflects what he perceives as the pope’s concern for El Hierro: “none.”
