Pope Francis received this Saturday in audience a delegation from Madrid headed by the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and they discussed the situation in Spain, the need for a “calm” policy, and sexist violence. The Vatican audience lasted approximately half an hour and included the participation of Isabel Díaz Ayuso; the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida; the Government delegate in Madrid, Mercedes González, and the Cardinal and Archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoro.

The delegation presented the Pope with a facsimile Codex on the miracles of Saint Labrador, patron saint of Madrid, a collection of books published on his life for the Holy Year, a commemorative medal and a bottle of water from your source.

In addition, aware of the pontiff’s fondness for soccer and who lived in Alcalá de Henares for years, they gave him the Tshirts of the four Madrid teams in the Spanish Primera División signed by “the entire squad”: the one from Real MadridAtlético, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe.

“It has been very exciting. When we began to prepare for the Jubilee Year, we did not imagine that it would have such an impact in the city of Madrid and in the community, nor that we would have the honor of being received by the Holy Father”, pointed out Martínez-Almeida, for whom today’s audience will be ” an unforgettable moment.”

Precisely, Martínez-Almeida was the protagonist of one of the highlights of the day, when he greeted Pope Francis with a handshake, and he referred to the mayor of Madrid as “the heir of the great Manuela”as you can see in the main video that accompanies this news.

For her part, Isabel Díaz Ayuso has indicated that they have been “with His Holiness talking about Madrid, about the citizens”, and he has “transmitted that throughout these days many people from Madrid” asked them to convey their “affection, their closeness and, above all, ask him to pray for the people of Madrid“.

The regional president also told the pontiff an anecdote that she lived this Friday during her visit to children who were beginning to walk with exoskeletons at the Niño Jesús hospital: “He has been impressed,” he said.to which he added: “He was very interested in the neighborhoods, in the people who have the most difficulties, but we have talked about everything we are doing for them and it has really been a pleasant memory, an unforgettable moment”, Has expressed.

In addition, the delegate of the Spanish Socialist Government in the Community, Mercedes González, stated that the Argentine Pope had shown “a deep knowledge of what is happening in politics and in Madrid society”, and that he has asked the three administrations that always put the interests of the people first. “That, like the saint, he has worked the miracle of uniting the three administrations, that he works the miracle that, in the face of the elections, we have that unity and let’s put the people first and we will not find ourselves with expressions as thick as the ones we are seeing in the media,” said González.

She has presented Francisco with the figure of a Menina, as she does with the institutions and the State Security Forces every November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Thus, González explained to the Pope that there are currently 9,500 women and minors protected from sexist violence. “She has been moved and has said ‘Help them, protect them and keep working like this’“, indicated the delegate.

“With which, for me it has been very important because, as a government delegate, one of my pillars is the fight against gender violence and I have felt in the Pope a similar sense and a feeling of protection of those people who are suffering from this scourge”, he has settled. Finally, the Madrid authorities have asked Francisco if he will go to Spain at some point, to which he has replied: “I will go soon”.