A public statement by Jesús Sanz, the Archbishop of Oviedo, has stirred controversy. He described recent protests over the government's handling of migration in Ceuta as a modern-day 'reconquista.' Sanz praised demonstrators and compared their actions to the medieval Christian campaigns to reclaim Al Andalus, calling the situation a fight to "recover what is worthwhile" in the face of what he described as "the Moroccan claim."
Sanz also criticized the Spanish government for what he called "the inanition of a failed governance" in response to the influx of migrants. His remarks came during a religious gathering in Covadonga, where religious symbolism met ongoing political disputes. On September 3, 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the Spanish Congress regarding the Ceuta crisis and pledged to publish all reports and documents related to the government's actions.
Sanz has used charged language before. He previously called the arrival of more than 70,000 irregular migrants in Ceuta a "premeditated invasion" and compared the situation to a "new green march," referencing Morocco's 1975 campaign in Western Sahara. Sanz has said the Spanish government is too weak to respond. He has expressed sorrow for the deaths of 140 people during attempted crossings, but frames these tragedies as part of a narrative of manipulation and outside threat.
Sanz's position is at odds with the Spanish Episcopal Conference and the Vatican, both of which have called for more support for migrants through regularization plans and rescue operations at sea. Vatican-linked media report that Fernando Redondo Pavón, who leads the migration department of the Spanish Bishops' Conference, has condemned violence and urged dialogue and cooperation, while stressing respect for migrants' dignity and a humanitarian response. Sanz, by contrast, has distanced himself from these appeals and used his platform to criticize migrants and government policy.
Controversy around Sanz extends beyond migration. Last year, he referred to Spanish Muslims as "moritos" and accused them of failing to condemn attacks on Christians abroad, after a local council banned Islamic celebrations in public sports facilities. His comments drew criticism from within the Spanish church, which had just warned that such bans were unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Recent reports from Spanish police have suggested possible Moroccan involvement in organizing the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta, though the government has urged caution in interpreting the findings. The crisis has also seen disinformation linked to foreign actors and far-right networks, information from statements by Prime Minister Sánchez, who announced an additional €168 million in aid for Ceuta.
Sanz has also made his political leanings clear. During the 23-J election campaign, he released a pastoral letter attacking the government for using pardons as "bargaining chips" and urged support for "true firefighters" over "lying arsonists." He has openly sided with Vox, calling its members "ultracatholics," and mocked climate activist Greta Thunberg and her supporters.
These repeated interventions have made Sanz a divisive figure within the church and Spanish public life. His use of historical references and inflammatory language risks deepening divisions as Spain faces challenges in migration policy and social cohesion. His approach appears aimed at escalating confrontation and reinforcing ideological divides, while leaving migrants' practical needs and the government's responsibilities in the background.
Spain's migration debate is already tense, with Ceuta and Melilla on the front line of irregular arrivals from Africa. The government's response has faced criticism from several sides, but Sanz's statements add religious and nationalist rhetoric that makes consensus harder to reach. As the country tries to address these issues, the Archbishop's words serve more as a rallying cry for division than as guidance. That approach could weaken the church's moral standing and the state's ability to manage a difficult situation.
