Tradition, Technology, and Faith Unite in Alicante's Easter Proclamation

Manuel Palomar, former rector of the University of Alicante and current director of the Centre for Digital Intelligence (CENID), blended tradition, technology, and faith as he delivered the 2025 Easter Proclamation on Saturday at a packed Main Theatre. Mayor Luis Barcala, who was the proclaimer in 2024, emphasized, "I said it last year and I reaffirm it this year, Alicante's Easter is experiencing its Golden Age."

The mayor extended an invitation "to witness the processions from the Official Route. But also, to experience the departure from the temples where Easter is lived in a special way. It's an experience that must be lived." He paid tribute to the pyrotechnician Pedro Luis Sirvent, explaining that "he was the one who fired the salute coinciding with the procession of the Virgin of Joy and the ceremonial salutes in homage to the Virgin of Remedy, Alicante's patron saint. Hopefully, his children will continue this tradition so that their father, who fired with his heart, continues to hear them."

The ONCE, represented by Estela Medina - director in Alicante - was honoured as the Flag Bearer of Honour after receiving the official flag of the Major Board from the provincial chief of the National Police in Alicante, Manuel Lafuente. The CNP was the Flag Bearer of Honour in 2024, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of its founding. The event, which was also attended by the Councillor for Festivities, Cristina García, featured, for the first time, the presence of the Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, José Ignacio Munilla.

Manuel Palomar began his speech by evoking the "Mediterranean essence" of Alicante and the "deep devotion" with which Easter is celebrated. He addressed, from the perspective of artificial intelligence, how "technology can be a bridge between history and modernity, allowing the dissemination and preservation of the Easter legacy without losing its spiritual essence."

The proclamation also highlighted the relationship between education and faith. At this point, he emphasized the role of institutions such as the Jesuits, Salesians, Marists, and Augustinians, "cradles of brotherhoods that combine teaching with devotion." The influence of the University of Alicante on Easter was mentioned, particularly in the Brotherhood of the Christ of Divine Love and Our Lady of Solitude 'The Sailor', "where academia and spirituality intertwine."

He mentioned the impact of "iconic" processions such as Santa Cruz and the Holy Christ of the Good Death, "which reflect Alicante's fervour" and concluded with the exaltation of the Mediterranean spirit "where light, sea, and faith intertwine in a celebration that unites generations and projects Alicante as a reference of tradition and modernity." At the end of his speech, it was the president of the Major Board of Brotherhoods and Easter Fraternities, Alfredo Llopis, who presented him with the 'Alicante of Passion', an original ceramic by Morán Berruti.