The bishops of Southern Spain expressed their «concern over the delicate situation facing» Ceuta during the CLXIII Ordinary Assembly, held on Monday, October 26 in Córdoba. The prelates addressed the situation of the autonomous city alongside other matters related to the Church’s social action, contemplative life, education, and youth ministry.
According to the statement released after the meeting, the bishops voiced their concern for Ceuta, although they did not announce specific measures or detail the actions the dioceses might undertake.
The reference comes after criticism of the episcopal silence regarding events in the autonomous city. Last September, InfoVaticana reported the absence of bishops from the demonstrations in support of Ceuta in the article «Spain awakens for Ceuta and not a single bishop in the squares».
Subsequently, the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Luis Argüello, also referred to this issue when linking the housing crisis, the situation in Ceuta, and abortion in a single reflection on human dignity.
The assembly was attended by the bishops of the dioceses of Granada, Seville, Almería, Asidonia-Jerez, Cádiz and Ceuta, Córdoba, Guadix, Huelva, Jaén, and Málaga. The day began with the celebration of the Eucharist.
Caritas warns that housing is the main factor of impoverishment
One of the central issues of the meeting was the social situation in Andalusia. The president of Caritas Regional of Andalusia, Francisco José Sánchez Heras, presented the bishops with the activity report for 2025 and addressed the economic challenges facing the diocesan Caritas organizations.
According to the report presented, job insecurity, social exclusion, and difficulties in accessing housing marked a large part of the assistance activity over the past year. The housing crisis has become the main factor of impoverishment for numerous families, worsening situations of vulnerability that already existed.
The Andalusian Caritas organizations assisted nearly 100,000 people during 2025, of whom around 5,000 were homeless.
In addition to providing help to cover basic needs such as food and utilities, the diocesan organizations strengthened educational support and expanded their programs for training and socio-labor integration.
In light of this reality, Caritas called on public administrations to make a greater effort to increase the supply of public housing, expand residential places, and improve attention to mental health issues.
Contemplative monasteries, the «spiritual lungs» of the dioceses
The bishops also devoted part of the assembly to the situation of the monasteries of contemplative life present in Andalusia.
In the statement, the prelates described these communities as the «spiritual lungs» of the dioceses, highlighting their importance for the Church’s life of prayer.
For this reason, they encouraged the faithful to pray for contemplative vocations and recalled the need to accompany the monasteries and attend to their needs.
Concern for heritage and attention to diocesan schools
Another matter addressed was the implementation of the new Andalusian Cultural Heritage Law, approved by the regional Parliament in March.
While the regulations developing the law are being drafted, the dioceses are studying its possible consequences for the conservation and management of ecclesiastical heritage.
The bishops also examined the situation of the diocesan schools, promoted by the dioceses and mostly organized through foundations.
During the meeting, they highlighted the educational mission of these centers and their social contribution, especially through teaching linked to the identity and principles of the Catholic Church.
The youth of the South will make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Head
The assembly also addressed the preparations for the Second Pilgrimage and Gathering of Youth from Southern Spain, which will take place from November 6 to 8 at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Head, in Andújar (Jaén).
The gathering will be held within the framework of the Jubilee Year commemorating the VIII Centenary of the apparition of the Virgin of the Head, one of the Marian devotions with the deepest roots in Andalusia.
The initiative will bring together young people from various dioceses of Southern Spain in days of pilgrimage, prayer, and fellowship around the Marian sanctuary of Sierra Morena.