Pope Francis received the medal of Elder Brother of Our Lady of Hope of Triana in Seville, Spain, and an image of the Virgin. Sergio Sopeña Elder Brother of the Brotherhood and a representation of the Governing Body of the latter made the presentation.

The meeting with the Holy Father took place during the General Audience yesterday, February 16, 2022, which was attended by a group of Sevillian pilgrims. Witnessed, in fact, was the Pontiff walking close to the flag of Sevilla C.F. [Seville’s Football Club].

A note of the Brotherhood stated that the Elder Brother explained to Pope Francis “the history and idiosyncrasy  of Our Lady of Hope of Triana, its importance inside and outside the limits of Spanish geography and the notable devotion professed by the faithful, who come from all over the world, to <make> our most loving headlines.”

Sopeña conferred the medal of Elder Brother of the Brotherhood on His Holiness, giving him also a photographic portrait of Our Lady of Hope, “expressing his desire that the Most Holy Virgin’s face may guide and illumine his Petrine Ministry in the coming years.” For his part, the Pontiff gave the Brotherhood a skullcap.

According to the mentioned note, the Bishop of Rome requested the Elder Brother and the representation of the Governing Body to transmit “a fraternal and friendly greeting to Monsignor Jose Angel Saiz Meneses, Archbishop of Seville, referring to the welcoming blessing that our Archdiocese received, through the mediation of the Holy Spirit, with his recent appointment as Pastor of his Church.”

Translation by Virginia M. Forrester