19-12-2024 - This year, the Archbishopric of Valladolid wanted to open the event in which, traditionally, the Archbishop congratulates the workers and volunteers of the Church in Valladolid on Christmas to a broad representation of Valladolid society. Thus, on the eve of the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, the Archbishop's Palace welcomed ecclesiastical representatives and members of the diocesan Curia, civil, academic and military authorities on the occasion of the Christmas greetings from the Archbishop, Don Luis Argüello, and the blessing and inauguration of the exhibition of nativity scenes and dioramas 'The Nativity Scene. Heart of Christmas'. There was also a family of Venezuelan origin – a mother and two children – who had just arrived in Spain, who are being accompanied by Caritas, which the Archbishop himself wanted to invite to this social event and to which he wanted to address the beginning of his Christmas greeting, as an expression of the “hospitality” that defines the Church of Valladolid, as he pointed out. Monsignor Argüello wanted to focus his Christmas greeting on “five words that are proper” to these dates. Beginning with “joy”, which “arises when there is a meeting, which is what the Church wants to inspire”. The second, the “family”, for whose support marriage is essential, a vocation in whose promotion “we are working”, the Archbishop assured, while the Church of Valladolid continues working “to be a family of families”. The third word of his Christmas greeting was “hope”. An allusion to the Holy Year called by Pope Francis for 2025, but also an invitation to all citizens to “listen” and “do everything possible to find common ground.” The fourth word was a “longing” for “peace,” especially in the face of the wars that are ravaging Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Finally, the Archbishop wanted to complete his particular Advent wreath with a fifth and final word, but also the most important: “Jesus.” “Because Jesus saves us from what no one can save us from,” he said. And at this point, Monsignor Argüello addressed his Christmas greetings especially to “those who have lost a loved one” —this is the case of the Archbishop himself, whose father died last June—, to “those who feel alone” and to the sick, because for them it is also Christmas if, like the Church, the city and the province of Valladolid become what he has defined as “a guest house.” On the occasion of this Christmas greeting, the archbishop's headquarters has become a meeting point for representatives of the Government Subdelegation, the Junta de Castilla y León, the Provincial Council, the Valladolid City Council and the Provincial Court; members of the Army, the Air Force and the Space Force, the National and Municipal Police and the Civil Guard; representatives of academic institutions, such as the Diocesan Seminary, the Augustinian Theological Study, the Fray Luis de León University School of Teaching, the Miguel de Cervantes European University and the Royal College of San Albano, as well as the Emilio Álvarez Gallego Foundation, Las Edades del Hombre, the Spanish Conference of Religious (CONFER) and the Board of Holy Week Brotherhoods of Valladolid, among many others. After wishing them a "happy and holy Christmas", they were all able to share a Spanish wine, served by La Sastrería Eventos, and wish each other a Merry Christmas less than a week before the Church celebrates the birth of Jesus.