After María José Catalá was elected the new mayor of Valencia, Spain on Sat., June 17, she immediately honored the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Catalá, who is a member of the Christian-conservative Popular Party (PP), managed to oust the leader of the Left-wing Compromís party, Joan Ribó, after eight years in office.
Catalá recovered the third most populous city in Spain for the PP.
After becoming mayor, the newly-elected candidate went to the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados and entrusted her government to Our Lady.
Para mí, era importante estar hoy aquí, en la Real Basílica, junto a la Virgen de los Desamparados y darle gracias por el privilegio que me ha concedido vivir.
A nuestra Patrona le pido que sea guía de este Gobierno en la toma de decisiones en favor de los valencianos y ampare… pic.twitter.com/bphgnDzPoj
— María José Catalá (@mjosecatala) June 17, 2023
“For me, it was important to be here today, in the Royal Basilica, next to the Virgen de los Desamparados [Our Lady of the Forsaken] and to thank her for the privilege that life has given me,” Catalá said in a post shared on her official Twitter account.
“I ask our Patroness to guide this Government in making decisions in favor of Valencians and always protect the city of Valencia.”
Several users expressed their gratitude and highlighted the action of the new mayor of Valencia.
“Thank you for this tweet! On the feast of her Immaculate Heart! Thank you, to the two mayors of the city,” one user said.
“Congratulations! With such a Valedora, Valencia will be fine. She welcomes us under her mantle,” user Ángela Stern also commented.
“I wish all politicians would place their mandates under the protection of Jesus and Mary , so that they let themselves be guided by the wisdom of the Spirit and make them make good decisions for the benefit of the people they are going to serve,” this user added.
The invocation of the Virgen de los Desamparados arose in the year 1409.
Catholic priest Father Joan-Gilabert Jofrét was on his way to preach at the Cathedral of Valencia when he observed a crowd killing a mentally ill person.
This injustice moved him so much that he created the first psychiatric hospital to welcome and assist these people.
This mission was called the Praiseworthy Brotherhood of the Virgin Mary of the Innocents.
As they later specially welcomed children without families, the hospital was renamed the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken).
Centuries later, in 1885, Pope Leo XIII named her Patroness of Valencia, and in 1923, the Virgen de los Desamparados received the Canonical Coronation.