The article focuses on the notable absence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from Pope Francis' funeral. While a high-level delegation from Spain, led by King Felipe VI, attended, Sánchez's absence is highlighted as unusual given the Spanish government's alignment with the Pope's social stances.
The article suggests several factors contributing to Sánchez's absence. These include strained relations between the government and the monarchy following past coordination failures (such as the absence of Spanish representation at the Notre-Dame reopening), and the government's desire to emphasize the strong historical ties between the Spanish monarchy and the Vatican. Additionally, the article mentions Sánchez's belonging to a younger generation with different experiences concerning the Catholic Church's role in Spanish politics compared to the transition generation.
The article provides historical context, detailing differing stances of the Catholic Church in Spanish politics across different papal reigns and archbishops. It highlights Pope Francis's return to a less politically active stance, similar to Pope Paul VI, in contrast to the period under Pope John Paul II.
The article speculates that Sánchez's absence is strategically timed, coinciding with the media focus on the Pope's funeral and allowing him to announce an increase in defense spending, a sensitive issue complicated by recent arms purchases.