He could have chosen any other setting. But he wanted it to be at home, where he has been able to embrace, individually, the many family members, friends, neighbours and past pupils who filled the "Maritime Museum of Luanco" and wanted to take a picture with him. And so, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime has been able to receive the title of Favourite Son of Asturias, under the name of the ship that, years ago, his grandfather captained.
The title of favourite son of Asturias is reserved for people born in the Principality, “who have stood out for their relevant merits, especially for their services on behalf of the autonomous community, and enjoy high prestige and general consideration”, as determined by the Law regulating Honours and Distinctions. On 7 June, the Governing Council agreed to grant this recognition to Fernández Artime “for his important socio-cultural work and services for the benefit of the community”.
And if there is one word that Fernández Artime has repeated, it has been “thank you”. The “thank you”s of a “Salesian believer, bishop, cardinal” who “contributes what he can from his position”, who on a day like yesterday tried to “create citizenship, bonds, humanity”, aware that others do the same from their position too, “from great and absolute respect”. Because, he said, “we are good people”.
During his speech, the Cardinal did not tire of thanking all “those who have made this possible”. He recalled that he could not pick up the title on 8 September, during Asturias Day, due to previous commitments, and wanted this tribute to be held in his hometown, Lluanco, in a gesture that reflects his closeness and simplicity. In this way, in fact, he indicated that this type of act “creates citizenship, humanity, bonds of empathy, each one from their position and with the absolute respect that everyone has for each other”.
“Those of us from Luanco are a bit conceited, which is why the neighbours call us 'fatos',” Fernández joked after listening to the praise they heaped on him, while recalling Adrian Barbón’s call announcing the recognition. “The President called me to find out if I would accept the Asturias’ favourite son recognition, and I said, who would not accept such a thing? I really thank him,” he insisted.
He claimed the “humility of recognising that most of what we are we have received, freely (...) Where we were born, our family, the education we received. Where I was born has marked me, the sea, our sea has marked me, the people who saw me grow up have marked me. This village, which I come to more and more because it draws me here so much, because it is an oasis where I can recharge myself, has left its mark on me. I am the result of so much that I have received and just a little of what I have done personally,” he said.
At a ceremony attended by the Archbishop of Oviedo, Jesús Sanz, the President of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, later praised the Cardinal’s attitude. “By this act, Ángel demonstrates in fact that he does not forget his origins, that he knows well where his people are and that he has firm moorings, safe from vanity and other storms,” he said.
The President offered many compliments, and received many thanks in return. Barbón said that the Cardinal, who left Luanco, the family and the sea behind as a child to study at a Salesian school, made the decision to be ordained, collaborated with Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, became Don Bosco's successor and since September 2023, is the seventh Asturian cardinal in history, and “meets all the requirements to be a Favourite Son.”
He praised his “simplicity and closeness”. “All people who have any public responsibility of whatever degree, should strive for those goals, Frequently, the exercise of a high office imposes unnecessary arrogance that only serves to distance us from others; to distance us, precisely, from the people we must serve.” Barbón added, “We often run the risk of swelling up and being blinded by pride. Therefore it is advisable to have a grounding that confronts us with reality and reconciles us with humility.” The president says that the Cardinal “leads by example”. “By this act, Ángel demonstrates in fact that he does not forget his origin, that he knows well where his people are and that he has firm moorings, safe from vanity and other storms,” he said.
On this day, Barbón urged people “to recover what unites us, to mutual comprehension, understanding”. “I think that few things can unite us more than recognising those who make us better through their work. To those people who, like Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, always carry the name of Asturias with them, without ever forgetting their origin, their good home port, the place where they put on their first fishermen's sandals,” he said.
