A funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday in honor of the 220 flood victims killed in the hurricane-like storm that hit Spain’s Mediterranean Coast at the end of October. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended the liturgy and were warmly welcomed by the general public and the families of victims.
The royal couple entered unceremoniously through the main doors of the cathedral to join the families of those who died in the historic flooding, reports El Debate. From the crowd at the entrance of the cathedral came cheers of “Viva los reyes!” (Long live the King). This marked the fourth time King Felipe had visited the devastated region and the third visit of his consort Letizia.
Their first visit took place a week after flash floods destroyed around a dozen towns, with their majesties accompanied by Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Valencia president Carlos Mazón. During that visit, the dignitaries were received with palatable frustration and anger, including jeers of “Murderers!” Some even threw the mud still covering almost everything at the country’s leaders. The king and queen famously pressed on through their tour while Sánchez immediately left the scene.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia spent more than an hour talking with the victims and listening to their complaints about the lack of government response. As El Debate noted, King Felipe pledged to personally investigate why the army had not arrived sooner to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
The Mass was celebrated by the parish priests from the towns hit by the storm and flooding. The central seating area of the cathedral was reserved for family members of the deceased. Following the Mass, their majesties mingled with the families, offering their condolences.
Several politicians from the Partido Popular (PP) also immediately confirmed their attendance, including Mazón, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of Madrid, and PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo. PM Sánchez did not attend the ceremony but at the last minute sent three ministers, the first vice president and Minister of Finance Maria Jesus Montero; Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory Angel Victor Torres, and Diana Morant, the minister of science, innovation, and universities.
According to El Debate, The politicians entered through a side door of the cathedral to avoid the public.
