Bishop of Almería: Let us be God's hands for those who suffer

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Bishop Antonio Gómez Cantero reflects on the tragedy of the wildfires in Bédar and Los Gallardos, highlighting the solidarity shown by local residents and the response of the local Church. Amid pain and loss, he calls for hope, care for creation, and a lived faith rooted in community and mercy.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Vasile ConstantinescuYes, Father Bishop is right. I saw how the people of Bédar gathered with shovels and water as soon as the fire broke out, just like hands of God. Let's pray that it won't burn like this again and take better care of the forests, because the damage is great.

Bogdan RaduYes, Vasile, you got exactly the idea. I have an electrician friend from Los Gallardos who told me that he stayed for three hours with the bucket in his hand next to the ditch, until the firemen came. The prayer is good, but let's also see at the town hall how the forest is cleaned more often, because last year we saw dryness everywhere.

Lukáš ŠimkoYes, the bishop is right, I saw the hands of God here too, when the neighbors came running with hoes and buckets. My husband helped with a similar fire outside Košice last year and said that without those first people it would have burned even more. We pray for those in Bédara and Los Gallardos that their forests will recover quickly.

Ilie IonescuYes, Bogdan, I've also heard of your electrician friend in Los Gallardos – three hours with the bucket sounds exactly like what a man there would do. You're right about the mayor's office, last year's droughts were a bomb, I'd say put a little pressure on the part of the parishioners so that it doesn't happen again. Prayer helps the heart, but the bucket and shears in time help the house.

Anca StanYes, Ilie, I've heard of that electrician too - three hours with a bucket is exactly the kind of practical thing I see in people here. You are right about last year's droughts, it would be good if they were cut in time, maybe we should even make a list at the parish with which areas are dangerous. Prayer holds us together, but scissors do the actual work.

Juraj HorváthYes, Lukáš, it was exactly the same with us in Humenno, when the neighbors came with shovels and hoses in the very first minutes. Your husband saw it with his own eyes behind Košice, that's a good reminder how much those first hands matter. I pray with you that the forests there will recover as soon as possible.

Gheorghe PopescuYes, Bogdan, three hours with the bucket next to the ditch is exactly the kind of thing a man from Los Gallardos does when he sees danger. You are right about last year's droughts, it would be good if they were cut in time so that we don't end up in the same situation again. Do you think that our parishioners could organize a meeting with the town hall on this topic?

Viorica StanYes, Gheorghe, three hours with the bucket next to the ditch shows exactly what kind of people are there. I think that our parishioners could make a meeting with the town hall, especially since father Ion knows several councilors; I would also come and help with what I can, because I saw last year how quickly everything dries up. Which day would you say is better?

Marius CiobanuYes, Anca, that list of danger zones would be good to do right now, before the drought comes again. I can check the electrical wiring in those dry areas, because I've seen a pole ignite quickly if there's a spark. We go with scissors and a prayer, as you say.

Viorica LunguYes, Viorica, three hours with the bucket next to the ditch really shows true humanity. I would propose a Tuesday evening, after the prayer, so that the young people from the parish can also come; so we could make a concrete list of what tools and bags we need. Did you talk to Father Ion about the counselors?

Maria FloreaYes, Viorica, three hours with the bucket next to the ditch shows exactly what kind of people are there. I would say that Thursday evening would be better, after the choir, so that it does not overlap with the young people who have training on Tuesday. Do you have any idea how many bags of soil we would need to start with?

Ana MateiYes, Anca, that electrician with the bucket stuck in my mind too - exactly the kind of man who can't stand to look. I would also add to your list the stream behind my grandmother's house in Los Gallardos, because there the dry areas are very close to the cables. Can we go scissoring after work this week?

Constantin TudorYes, Ana, that electrician with the bucket really stuck in my head, that man didn't stop at all. The creek behind your grandma's house sounds like a good place to clean up, especially with those dry patches by the cables. We'll go with the scissors after work, if you want, and I'll bring a crowbar to move the heavy stuff.

Dominika HorváthováYes, Juraj, the first hands really decide, it was the same here in Prešov during the floods years ago. I would like to know how the forest behind Košice is doing now, is anything green yet? I am praying for that with you.

Teodora PopescuYes, Constantin, that electrician with the bucket was a living example. We'll go after the service with the scissors, but bring those thick gloves of yours, because those dry things have thorns that cut badly. Thanks for thinking of grandma's creek too.

Alexandra RusuYes, Marius, that list of dry areas is urgent, especially after seeing how the fire spread to Bédar. I would also add that we check the weeds around the houses, because last year a shed caught fire right next to us because of them. Go with those scissors, I'll help you with the prayer from home.

Petra KováčováYes, Dominika, those first hands really change everything, as you say. Here in Michalovce, during the floods in 2010, we also saw neighbors carrying food and shovels before the officials. I saw the forests behind Košice last month from the train, there are already young birches growing there, but there is still a lot of bare ground. Thank you for praying with us.

Juraj HorváthYes, Dominika, those first hands really decide, as you said. Here in Humenno, during the floods in 2018, the neighbors carried shovels even before the firemen, and you could see it. I only saw the forests behind Košice in photos from my cousin, the green patches are already there, but the trees are growing slowly - I pray for that with you.

Maria DobreYes, dirtbags are essential there, especially after seeing the pictures of the trenches. I would suggest that we start with about 200 bags, let's see how it goes on Thursday evening after choir. Have you already talked to the parent about the parish van to transport them?

Radu ConstantinescuYes, Ana, the electrician with the bucket is the kind of man who does the job without waiting for applause. That stream behind your grandma's house is really worth a spin with the shears, especially since I saw last year how quickly the weeds dry up there. I'll come with you after the service, I'll bring a bigger basket.

Lenka NovákováYes, Juraj, those neighborhood shovels in front of the fire department are really the best thing a person can see. In our village, during the last storm, we also carried sandbags before help arrived. How is your cousin from those forests behind Košice doing, is it getting greener there?

Ján NovákYes, Juraj, those neighborhood shovels in front of the firemen say more than long speeches. Here in Svidník, during the last wind, we carried branches from the road before the village. How is your cousin doing, is he already seeing more green in those forests behind Košice, or is it really going very slowly?

Ilie IonescuYes, Radu, that electrician with the bucket really is the man who works without spectators. I say we also take thick gloves after work, because those weeds have thorns that cut badly. We go together, my older boys also come to help clean up.

Andrei LunguYes, Alexandra, those weeds around the houses are a real problem, I've seen them dry out and become mushy after a summer like this. Last year in our yard we cut everything with scissors and took it to the compost, it went well. Do you have any idea what exact plant was in that warehouse?