By Sebastián Sansón Ferrari
The Church in Almería mobilised from the first hours of the wildfire that broke out on Jul 9, affecting the towns of Bédar and Los Gallardos, to accompany those impacted and help meet their most urgent needs.
At least 13 people have been confirmed dead and 8 injured. 23 others remain missing following the fire that broke out on Thursday in Los Gallardos, Andalusia and has since spread acoss 6,600 hectars. Almost 1,500 residents have been displaced.
Speaking to Vatican News, Bishop Antonio Gómez Cantero of Almería recalled that the fire spread with extraordinary speed, driven by high temperatures and strong winds, racing through ravines and hard-to-reach areas where many homes were isolated.
“Every minute, the wind pushed the fire another hundred metres through the scrubland,” he said.
Authorities adapted evacuation measures according to local conditions, while parishes and Caritas quickly organised assistance for evacuees. Many residents found shelter in temporary facilities, while others were welcomed into private homes. The Bishop praised the solidarity shown by volunteers who supplied food and water to firefighters and supported those forced to flee.
“Everyone came together in solidarity in the face of this great tragedy,” he said.
The Bishop also recalled how one local woman rang the parish church bells to warn residents to evacuate—a traditional method of alerting communities in times of emergency.
Diocese’s pastoral response
Reflecting on the Diocese’s pastoral response, Bishop Gómez Cantero said priests remained alongside the population from the outset, accompanying especially the elderly and displaced families. He announced that he would visit the affected communities during celebrations for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Speaking about the human cost of the disaster, he referred to those who lost their lives, the identification of victims, and the rescue of two hikers who were found alive after spending two days stranded in a ravine.
Asked where God is amid such suffering, the Bishop recalled the words of one of his priests: “God is with you, suffering this on the Cross.”
He urged Christians not to focus on assigning blame but on caring for those affected.
“Now is not the time for assigning blame; now is the time for all of us to take responsibility for those who are suffering,” he said, calling the faithful to become a “Samaritan Church.”
Recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan, he said Christians are called “to see, welcome, heal, restore and protect” those in need.
Solidarity a sign of hope
The Bishop described the solidarity shown by neighbours, parishes and volunteers as a sign of hope.
“To begin again is to look to the future, and to begin again is to have hope,” he said.
He added that Christians are called to become instruments of God’s compassion: “Very often, we are God’s hands, God’s feet, God’s eyes, God’s voice and God’s ears, because our faith calls us to bring God to others through our own lives.”
Finally, Bishop Gómez Cantero said the tragedy should also inspire renewed care for creation. Echoing the teaching of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si’, he stressed the importance of caring for forests and living in harmony with nature.
“If we care for nature, nature will care for us,” he said. – Vatican News
