Alicante Mourns the Death of Pope Francis

Flags flying over the façade of Alicante City Hall are at half-mast in mourning for the death of Pope Francis. The flags will remain this way for three days, as the City Council has joined the mourning period declared by the Generalitat and the Government of Spain.

"Rest in Peace Pope Francis. Servant of the world and the Church," were the words that Mayor Luis Barcala posted on his social media after learning of the Pontiff's death this Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, in his residence at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

From the Generalitat, which has also declared mourning in the Community until Thursday, April 24, President Carlos Mazón has also conveyed his condolences for the death of Pope Francis: "Rest in peace."

Additionally, the head of the Consell also praised the deceased Pontiff as "a key figure of our time, a symbol of dialogue, humility, and commitment to the most vulnerable."

The President of the Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, also expressed his sorrow for the death of Jorge Mario Bergoglio. "A brave, austere Pope, a great defender of peace who advocated before the world's leading figures for the end of wars and the defense of human rights."

The Government has declared three days of official mourning, from this Monday until Wednesday, for the death of Pope Francis. In a statement before the flags of Spain and the European Union with ribbons, the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolaños, announced the decision.

With this, he maintained that Francis's pontificate "has represented a renewing and reformist impulse" for the Catholic Church that "will leave a legacy for history," characterized "by his fight against inequality, injustices" and by "his battle" against climate change and his concern "for all those on the peripheries."

For this reason, according to the socialist minister, the Government of Spain "has always felt so close to his work," especially his defense of peace, "always advocating for dialogue and diplomatic solutions to any type of conflict."

"In the meetings we have had with His Holiness, we have been able to witness his closeness, his sympathy, his affection for Spain. He knew the reality of our country perfectly. He loved us, and we loved him and what his papacy meant. The humanist, solidarity, reformist legacy of Pope Francis will endure forever," he continued.

"We mourn the loss of Pope Francis and send our deepest condolences to the entire Catholic community and to all the people around the world who feel the loss of Pope Francis as someone close. A good man has passed away, a great Pope has died. Rest in peace Pope Francis," concluded Bolaños in his statement.