More than thirty Christian organizations in Madrid have signed a harsh statement denouncing the policies of the Community and the City Council of Madrid towards homeless people and the migrant population. The groups accuse Isabel Díaz Ayuso and José Luis Martínez-Almeida of promoting "segregationist, exclusionary, and aporophobic" measures and criticize the Madrid Church for its silence in the face of these actions.
Removal of belongings from homeless people in Madrid
In the document, the entities express their "most absolute repulsion" towards the recent instructions attributed to the City Council of Madrid and the Community of Madrid, which they consider contrary to human dignity and the principles defended by Pope Leo XIV.
One of the main reasons for criticism is the removal of belongings from people living on the street. According to their explanation, Samur Social's street outreach services have reported that these actions are carried out without prior notice and without offering housing alternatives to those affected. The organizations also warn that among the objects removed were personal documents necessary for administrative regularization processes, with consequences they describe as "very serious" for the affected individuals.
Transport card for unregistered individuals
The statement also criticizes the decision of the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to deny public transport cards to unregistered individuals, a measure that, according to the signatory organizations, mainly affects the migrant population. The groups reject the argument that these individuals do not contribute fiscally and maintain that this assertion favors the dissemination of xenophobic, racist, and hate speech.
The entities argue that all individuals contribute to the maintenance of public services through consumption and advocate for the universality of rights, as well as the social and economic contribution of immigration.
They appeal to the message of Pope Leo XIV
The signatories link these criticisms to the recent visit of Leo XIV to Madrid and question what remains of the messages delivered by the Pontiff during his stay in Spain. In particular, they criticize those who present themselves as defenders of Catholic values for supporting policies that, in their opinion, criminalize impoverished people and migrant neighbors.
The text maintains that the denounced decisions “have nothing to do” with the proposals defended by Leo XIV, to whom they attribute a vision based on human dignity, fraternity, and universal solidarity in contrast to the so-called “national priority”.
Reproach to the Madrid Church for its silence
The organizations also express their displeasure at the lack of public condemnation of these measures by the Church of Madrid. According to them, it “deeply hurts” them that, as far as they know, the diocese has not raised its voice against the decisions adopted by the Regional Government and the City Council.
To reinforce their position, they recall words spoken by Leo XIV before Parliament on June 8: “Wherever a person is discriminated against because of their national, ethnic, religious, linguistic origin or their economic condition, the universal principle of equal dignity for all human beings is gravely violated.”
More than 30 entities support the manifesto
Among the organizations signing the statement are groups such as Comunidad Interlavapiés, the parish of San Carlos Borromeo, Redes Cristianas, Acción Católica Obrera de Madrid, the Samba Martine Human Rights Observatory, as well as various base communities, parishes, and groups linked to Christian spirituality and social work with vulnerable populations.