El obispo de Alcalá alerta del «enfriamiento religioso» y pide evitar que la Primera Comunión y la Confirmación se conviertan en «sacramentos del adiós»

In brief

Bishop Antonio Prieto Lucena of Alcalá de Henares is calling for a review of Christian initiation to prevent First Communion and Confirmation from becoming sacraments that mark a person's departure from the faith. In his pastoral letter for the 2026-2027 academic year, the bishop warned of religious cooling caused by increasing secularization and a decline in how faith is passed down to new generations.

Prieto Lucena noted that many Catholics now possess a weak Christian identity. He urged pastoral communities to address this trend to ensure these sacraments lead to deeper involvement in the Church rather than serving as final religious milestones.