Valdés appointed Ms. Edit Szekely, Territorial Director for Europe, and Ms. Kata Sara Gyuricza, National Coordinator for Spain and Hungary, to lead the strategy for raising the visibility and promotion of the Region of Murcia’s valuable religious and cultural heritage. Both are well-versed in the tangible and intangible religious heritage of Europe and Spain and aim to position it first within Europe and later in Latin America, on the most international stage.
"The incorporation of our Diocese into this Network is an opportunity to share with the world our roots, our living faith, and the commitment of our communities to hospitality, tradition, and spirituality," said Bishop José Manuel Lorca Planes. "With this alliance, we open our doors to pilgrims from around the globe, confident that well-managed religious tourism enriches both the visitor and the welcoming communities—and we are a people deeply dedicated to our visitors."
Valdés, for her part, emphasized that “As of today, the World Network has the privilege of adding to its global community a Diocese with an exceptional sacred legacy of which I am especially proud. This incorporation also represents an inspiring model for a new form of international cooperation.” She further noted that “this exceptional sacred heritage is located in one of the regions with the highest proportional concentration of religious festivals declared of tourist interest in all of Spain.”
Indeed, the Region of Murcia accounts for 8.33% of Spain’s religious festivals of international tourist interest, 4.93% of those of national interest, and 4.09% of the regional ones. More than 50% of all its festivals declared of tourist interest have a religious nature—an unmistakable sign of its spiritual and cultural wealth.
The municipality of Calasparra, a member of the network since last December, has already begun promoting its Sanctuary of Our Lady of Hope as an international destination of Marian pilgrimage and devotion through the World Network.
The Network and the Diocese will collaborate closely to internationally promote key milestones such as the Jubilee Years of Cehegín (2025) and Abanilla (2026), and emblematic expressions such as the Holy Week celebrations of Murcia, Cartagena, Lorca, Jumilla, or Cieza; the Night of the Drums in Mula; or the Patron Saint Festivities of the Immaculate Conception in Yecla, among many others.
The World Religious Tourism Network has become a leading international platform for cooperation among sacred destinations, open to all religions, with a particular focus on the Catholic sphere in coordination with the Episcopal Conferences of each country. Its work in promotion, innovation, and training is already active in 18 countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Egypt, among others.
The incorporation of the Diocese of Cartagena is undoubtedly a milestone that projects Murcia’s spirituality beyond its borders and firmly places it on the international map of pilgrimage and faith-based tourism.
