MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Religious cross-border procession unites Gibraltar and Spain’s La Linea

Hundreds of faithful from Gibraltar and neighbouring Spanish location La Linea expressed their devotion to Our Lady of Europe on Monday in the first time ever cross-border procession, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

A replica statue of Our Lady of Europe was presented to the people of La Linea as part of the 700th anniversary of the devotion to Our Lady of Europe and the culmination of the Jubilee year on Tuesday.

It was an historic and moving moment as the Bishop of Gibraltar and from the Spanish city of Cadiz embraced at the frontier in the no mans land area as the statue was taken in procession across the frontier stopping all traffic for some 20 minutes.

The waiting 500 strong crowd on the Spanish side moved into the area, as the Gibraltarian faithful (some 200) cleared Spanish Customs, causing great commotion amidst much excitement. “Bienvenida a La Linea,” cried others in a spirit of welcome.

For a long time it was difficult to manoeuvre as the procession bearers of the Gibraltar Franciscan Fraternity held the statue on high for all to see, and from where she was serenaded by the Banda Municipal of La Linea, and a specially written hymn by the Choir of the Immaculada.

Speaking to the Chronicle the Bishop of Cadiz Don Antonio Ceballos Atienza who accepted this gift as a sign of neighbourliness between both communities, said “this is a singular moment which will have repercussions in the whole of Europe.”

“I am overwhelmed at the warmness with which we have been received,” Bishop Charles Caruana said.

The Bishops and Clergy from Gibraltar and La Linea were joined by the Mayor of Gibraltar Momy Levy, the Mayor of La Linea Juan Carlos Juárez, and a number of Concejales. Also present were Montecino, Spanish Foreign Ministry delegate to the Campo, and Gibraltar’s Deputy Mayoress Olga Zammit.

Mr Levy said, “I am here because we are one big family, and religion has no frontiers.”

For his part Juárez felt the moment was of great importance.

The procession which then moved on through the streets of La Linea was on a great scale and reminiscent of Holy Week, 900 strong, headed by the Gibraltar Sea Scouts Pipe Band, followed by the different Fraternities (Cofradias) in the Campo Area, the clergy of Gibraltar and the Campo, and the faithful (with many familiar faces from Gibraltar) who also lined the procession to the Church of La Inmaculada de la Concepcion.

In the final stretch she was carried by priests from Gibraltar and the Campo to the main square where an open air Mass was held.