Hundreds mourn their dead at Seville mass for virus victims
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Hundreds of people who lost loved ones to coronavirus joined a huge funeral mass at Seville Cathedral on Thursday in one of the largest public gatherings in Spain since the lockdown.
As they sat under the cathedral’s towering vaulted ceiling on carefully-spaced folding chairs, some could be seen wiping away tears as a nearly 90-strong choir and orchestra performed Mozart’s Requiem
Many were dressed in black and all were wearing facemasks as Archbishop Juan Jose Asenjo opened the service with the account of Jesus’ death from one of the gospels.
“It is very possible that in the past three months many of us have, like Jesus, lifted our eyes to the heavens and asked ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’,” he said.
Spain went into lockdown in mid-March to slow the spread of the virus that has killed more than 27,000 people, most of whom were over 70.
But with the epidemic now well under control, the restrictions have been gradually eased in a staged rollback, with Seville currently in phase two in which places of worship move to 50 percent of normal capacity.
Some 600 places were reserved for bereaved family members but the funeral mass was also attended by city and regional government officials, senior military figures, academics and judges.
“For me this event is important because my sister has passed away in Madrid.. and we haven’t been able to hold a private ceremony because it’s not allowed in this phase,” said a mourner called Maria who declined to give her family name. “But this (mass) is very much appreciated.” (AFP)
