<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Sumar Plurinational Parliamentary Group has asked the Government if it will take advantage of the election of the new Pope "to modify diplomatic relations" between Spain and the Vatican by repealing the 1979 Concordat of the Holy See, "a legacy of Franco's National Catholicism."</strong></h4> In a written parliamentary question submitted on May 7, the party led by Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz urges the Executive to clarify whether it plans to "take advantage of the change of head of the Vatican State, with the election of the new Pope," to "modify diplomatic relations between the two states." Likewise, Sumar (a minority partner in Pedro Sánchez's coalition government) asks if these modifications include "the repeal of the 1979 Concordat of the Holy See, a legacy of Franco's National Catholicism." Sumar also asks the Executive if it will "end the tax benefits enjoyed by the Catholic Church" and if it plans to "eliminate box 105 in the personal income tax return." In its response, registered on June 11 and published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette of the Cortes Generales (Spanish Parliament), the Government asserts that "the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, by emphasizing the sovereign equality of states and the promotion of friendly relations among nations, provides a legal framework that ensures the stability and continuity of diplomatic relations, even in the event of a change of government." It also recalls that, "after the period of vacant seat, during which all Curia positions not necessary for the functioning of the Holy See cease, the new Pope must proceed with the appointment of the new positions." In this context, it continues, "one of Pope Leo XIV's first decisions was to retain the members of the Curia provisionally, while he decides on the appointments to what will be the new Vatican Curia during his pontificate." "It is therefore necessary to allow time for the leaders of the Holy See's Government to be confirmed, giving continuity to the good relations that have been maintained in recent years and to the work carried out," the response concludes.
