An institutional and ecclesiastical delegation from Valladolid has been received at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV to officially present the Valladolid Holy Week, recognized as an International Tourist Resource of Interest. The meeting had a cultural, religious, and tourist character, and served to project this celebration beyond the national scope.
According to the archdiocese itself, the representation was headed by the mayor of Valladolid, Jesús Julio Carnero, accompanied by the Tourism councilor, Blanca Jiménez. Also participating were the Archbishop of Valladolid, Luis Javier Argüello; the president of the Provincial Deputation, Conrado Íscar; and the president of the Holy Week Brotherhoods Board, Luis Miguel Vegas, along with other members of the entity.
An Artistic Gift for the Holy Father
During the audience, the delegation presented the Pope with a signed reproduction of the original canvas by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, a work created by the artist as the main image of the poster announcing the Valladolid Holy Week 2026.
The gesture aimed to highlight the artistic value of a celebration that stands out for the quality of its processional imagery and for the sobriety characteristic of Castilian processions.
Spiritual, Heritage, and Tourist Value
In the meeting, the spiritual and evangelizing meaning of Holy Week was highlighted, as well as its heritage and cultural dimension. From the archdiocese, the historical roots of this manifestation of popular religiosity were emphasized both in the capital and in the municipalities of the province.
For their part, the civil authorities emphasized the economic and tourist impact of the celebration. The mayor stressed that the visit represents an opportunity to strengthen the international projection of Valladolid, while the president of the Deputation highlighted its capacity to attract visitors and generate activity across the entire provincial territory.
The Brotherhoods Board thanked the institutional support and pointed out the ongoing work of the brotherhoods in the conservation and transmission of this tradition.
International Projection
The presentation in Rome consolidates the external dimension of the Valladolid Holy Week and reinforces its positioning as one of the main religious tourism events in Spain. The meeting has served to value a celebration that combines faith, artistic tradition, and citizen participation.