EUROPE/SPAIN-Act of brotherhood between Mexico and Spain in the name of the Blessed Juan de Palafox

Burgo de Osma (Agenzia Fides) - A new and lasting sign of brotherhood among the people of Mexico and Spain was established thanks to Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, a native from Fitero in Navarra (Spain), and illustrious Bishop of Puebla, in Mexico. After the beatification ceremony, held yesterday, Sunday, June 5, in Burgo de Osma, in Spain, representatives of local political authorities welcomed the Mexican authorities in the Town Hall to sign an act of brotherhood between Puebla (Mexico), and Navarre and Castilla and León (Spain).
According to the letter received by Fides, the members of the State Congress, Rafael von Raesfeld, Mario Riestra Piña and Ana María Jiménez, and members of the Mexican PRI Filiberto Guevara and Jose Luis Marquez were received by the heads of the regional governments of Castilla y León, Juan Vicente Herrera, and the President of the Government of Navarra, Miguel Sanz Sesma. The sign of brotherhood among nations was led by Deputy Senate President of Spain, Juan José Lucas Jiménez: it is a badge that displays the flags of Spain and Mexico by the intertwined arms of Puebla.
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza was born in 1600 in the town of Fitero (Spain). In 1626 he entered the service of the monarchy. He became a priest in 1629 and ten years later he received the episcopal ordination. Appointed bishop of Puebla de los Angeles in Mexico (New Spain) he had important responsibilities, as viceroy and apostolic visitor, distinguishing himself as a zealous pastor. He died at Osma in 1659. Historians remember his intelligence, integrity, energy, intellectual preparation and will. He was bishop, political thinker, and viceroy and visitor of New Spain, a reformer, writer, poet, editor and commentator of St. Therese, patron of the arts and music, the protector of the Indians, legislator and ascetic, and a man of deep spirituality.
Pope Benedict XIII signed the introduction of the cause of beatification in 1726, Benedict XIV opened the path for the approval of his writings in 1758 and Benedict XVI approved the decree of heroic virtue (2009) and the decree regarding the miracle (2010). (EC) (Agenzia Fides 06/06/2011)