King Juan Carlos of Spain is to approve the appointment of a priest from Gibraltar as head of a leading Catholic training college amid a downturn in relations between London and Madrid over the Rock.
The Spanish monarch will formally approve Father John Pardo as the next rector of the English College in Valladolid, a 16th century priests’ training college in northern Spain.
Father Pardo, who spent eight years working in Gibraltar, will take over the post this summer at the college which trains British priests before they return to preach in the UK.
A spokesman for La Zarzuela, the Spanish royal residence, said: “The King will give his seal of approval possibly next week to Father Pardo’s appointment.”
The backing of a Spanish monarch for a priest from Gibraltar has been seen as a positive move after relations between Madrid, London and Gibraltar reached a new low recently over the Rock.
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“I see it as perfectly natural a British priest should be approved by the King, despite the fact they regard us as squatters in Gibraltar,” said Joe Bossano, a former First Minister of Gibraltar and member of the Socialist Labour Party.
Spanish commentators noted Father Pardo’s appointment marked a positive change after a series of setbacks.
“After a series of aggressive confrontations, this is a symbol of good relations between both communities,” said José Ignacio Landaluce, a deputy with the conservative Popular Party which supports Spain’s claim to soveriegnty over Gibraltar.
Spain still claims sovereignty over the Rock, which was ceded by Spain to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
After centuries of friction, relations between Britain and Spain over the tiny colony reached a low in 1969 when General Francisco Franco closed the border. It was not fully reopened until 1985. In recent years, however, relations thawed after a trilateral deal brought greater co-operation.
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Talks between Spain, Britain and Gibraltar stalled again last year after confrontations between the Royal Navy and the Spanish Guardia Civil in disputed territorial waters around the Rock.
In a recent interview with The Times, Trinidad Jiménez, the Spanish Foreign Minister, said: “We will never give up our claim to the sovereignty of Gibraltar.”
However, in successive referendums, Gibraltarians have voted to remain British.
In 1981, King Juan Carlos and the Spanish Royal Family boycotted the Royal Wedding after it emerged Charles and Diana were going to spend part of their honeymoon in Gibraltar.
In March Crown Prince Felipe, the heir to the Spanish crown, waded into the row at a gala dinner to welcome Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to Spain.
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The prince’s comments brought an angry response from sources at the Gibraltar Government.
Father Pardo, who worked in Gibraltar between 1985-2003, told The Times: “When I was in Gibraltar tempers sometimes flared but this is a time of growth and stability in relations between Spain and Britain.”
The Royal College of St Alban, Valladolid, was founded in 1589 for the training of Catholic priests for England and Wales. Father Pardo’s appointment was first approved by the Vatican, then finally by King Juan Carlos.
The college now offers a one-year pre-seminary course for Catholic men considering the priesthood.