Ramon Llull: "The people of Mallorca today must remember who they are and not forget the language with which they love, nor the land they walk on."

ManacorRamon Llull symbolically returns to the Pla de Mallorca in a fictional interview created with artificial intelligence, published in All Plans On the occasion of Holy Innocents' Day. From Randa to current debates on language, coexistence, tourism, and identity, the 13th-century Mallorcan thinker engages in dialogue with the 21st century in a literary piece that reflects on Mallorca's present through the lens of Lull's legacy.

Master Ramón, if you'll allow us, we'd like to speak with you about your time in Randa. What brought you here to this solitary mountain?

— I was a man like so many others, consumed by pride and vanity. I served the court, wrote songs, sought honors... But one day God showed me that it was all smoke and mirrors. I left everything: family, riches, dreams of glory. I came here to Randa because I needed silence. I wanted to hear the voice I had heard in my heart, a voice that asked me for more than words: it asked me for a new life.

And this is where you had your famous epiphany. How do you remember it, if it can even be described?

— It cannot be described, only experienced. That silence was filled with a presence that enveloped my soul. I understood that knowledge, if it does not serve to inspire love, is useless. That God desires not wars but understanding. I saw clearly that reason and faith must go hand in hand, and that I must dedicate myself to building bridges between peoples and religions. In my time, Christians, Jews, and Saracens shared islands, markets, words, and hopes.

In the cave where you used to retreat, there is now a statue of you. For years it was mutilated and missing, but it has recently been restored. What do you think of this?

— When an image is broken, it seems as if the memory of what it represents is also broken. But don't forget that what truly matters is not the stone but the living memory. If they have rebuilt it, it is a sign that faith still exists, that the hearts of the Mallorcan people still hold a deep affection for what is profound. Let them restore the figures, yes, but let them also restore within themselves the goodness and the curiosity for truth. This is what I would like most.

Today they say he wrote to the bushes, now they talk about the Written Bush of Ramon Llull, what is this?

— [Smiles] Ah, stories always have a life of their own. I used to wander through groves and rocky outcrops, and everything I saw inspired me. Perhaps people called it "The Written Bush" because there I understood that all of nature is an open book, where God has left signs for whoever wants to read them. I didn't see or write words on the leaves, but I did hear the world speaking. And, if you pause long enough, even the stone teaches you.

Now that we're talking about Mata Escrita, scholars are currently debating whether you lived in the Pola estate or in Mata Escrita. Can you clarify this for us?

— My children, pay no attention to the stone house but to the state of your soul. I dwelt where I was allowed to live as a father, as a knight, and as a sinner; and I ascended Randa when God called me to live as a servant of truth. Whether it was to Pola or to La Mata, which was described as 'written,' matters little: both were close enough for the journey to be short and far enough for the silence to be fruitful. If you speak another language, learn this one and teach your own. In this way, both will gain.

In many places in the Pla – Randa, Algaida, Montuïri – you are held in great devotion. How do you remember this land?

— Pla is the heart of Mallorca. Here, everything seems simple, but there's an ancient wisdom: the patience of the farmers, the quiet faith of the people who work without making a sound. I learned a lot from them. From the Mallorcans, I learned that roots are important, but that we must never forget to look to the horizon. If we only look at our land, we close ourselves off; if we only look at the sky, we get lost. We need to have both feet and wings at the same time.

Today, Mallorca has changed a lot. People arrive from all over the world: foreigners who settle here, families who come from Morocco and other parts of North Africa. What do you think about this, having lived through the times of Christians and Saracens?

— [He sighs and his gaze drifts off] Peoples have always changed. In my time, Christians, Jews, and Saracens shared islands, markets, words, and hopes. Too often, we regarded each other with suspicion. I spent half my life trying to prove that God is not the property of any one people. If Mallorca now welcomes people from other lands, what it must do is not lose its soul and, at the same time, open its doors wisely. Those who arrive must respect the house, and those who are there must respect the guests. There is no peace without mutual respect. I don't care where you come from: if you seek good, you are already one of my people. If you speak another language, learn the local one and teach yours. In this way, both will gain. God does not look at us by our origins, but by our hearts. And Mallorca, which is small, must be greater in spirit.

What would you say to the people of Mallorca today, who may no longer know much about their history?

— May they never stop thinking, reading, and loving. May they not confuse faith with fanaticism, nor wisdom with pride. And above all, may they cherish their language and their land without hating those of others. I have seen how the world changes, but there are things that must never die: kindness, curiosity, patience, and humility. If you climb Randa, don't do it just to see the scenery. Do it to look within yourself. The mountain is not just a mountain: it is a school. And, like any school, it is those who are eager to learn who teach.

Many consider Dr. Llull's life of service, study, and mission exemplary, yet he has not been declared a saint. What do you think has prevented the Holy See from canonizing him?

— Perhaps it is because God's ways are not the same as men's. My life has been full of labors and risks for the faith, but also controversial: I have written books that challenge many, I have sought to unite reason and faith, and I have crossed oceans to speak to those who did not know Christ. Perhaps this has been too great or too strange for those who have the authority to recognize holiness. But it does not trouble me; my desire has not been human recognition but the salvation of souls and the truth of God. True holiness does not depend on the decrees of men, but on the grace that God bestows on those who love and serve Him faithfully. Physical exertion can be a form of meditation. But I would also tell them: do not forget why you are climbing Mount Randa.

Ramón, what would you say to all these people who argue that Mallorcan, or the way you write it, is not the Catalan of Mallorca? (He asks us to transcribe the answer using the Catalan of Mallorca that he used)

— My dearest son, greater still is the ignorance of those who wish to divide what is one. Know that the language I have spoken to you and in which I have written many books is the Catalan language, the language of the people who live in Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca. And although the Mallorcans have their own manner and pronunciation, it is not for that reason another language; rather, it is one and the same, just as the trunk is one, though the branches are diverse. For words are made by reason and understanding, and not by discord or the vainglory of saying, "This is mine and not yours." And for this reason I tell you: have love for your language, for God wills that people understand one another in peace and charity, not in separation or contention.

Tourism and Pla de Mallorca

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about the Sustainable Tourism Plan for the destination, which aims to make Pla de Mallorca a region with more peaceful and respectful tourism. What do you think of this idea?

— It seems sensible to me. Not all that glitters is gold, and not every crowd is wealth. Tourism can be a blessing or a temptation. If it helps preserve nature, culture, and the peace of communities, it's good. But if it only seeks profit and damages the soul of the land, it's like sowing seeds on rocks: nothing grows. Sustainable tourism is, at its core, what I would call 'tourism with soul': coming to understand, not just to consume.

Every summer, millions of visitors arrive throughout Mallorca. Some say there are already too many. What do you think?

— [She smiles sadly] If the island gets so crowded you can't breathe, it's a sign that we need to rethink our approach. Beauty, when displayed too much, becomes exhausted. Mallorca should be welcoming, but not a slave to its own charm. I would say that travelers should come to learn, not to exhaust themselves. And that Mallorcans should remember that their island is not a shop window, but a home. If you let everyone in without restraint, the house falls apart. If you close the door completely, the light goes out. Wisdom lies in finding the balance.

Every year thousands of cyclists climb to the Cura sanctuary. The roads of Randa are filled with bicycles. What do you think of this phenomenon?

— I've heard about these modern-day pilgrims on wheels! [Laughs.] I like to think that there are still people who climb Cura, even if it's for the effort and the sport. Physical exertion can be a form of meditation. But I would also tell them not to forget why they're climbing. It's not just a mountain to record a PR or take a photo. It's a place that speaks, that teaches humility. If every cyclist, upon reaching the top, took a minute of silence and looked at the landscape with gratitude, Randa would still be a sanctuary and not just a dot on the map.

And finally, what message would you like to leave for the people of Mallorca today, who live between the past and the future?

— May they remember who they are. May they not forget the language with which they love, nor the land they walk upon. May they welcome, but not sell themselves out. May they think before they act and love before they judge. And above all, may they not confuse happiness with noise. Peace lies in silence, as I found it here, among stones and wind. Mallorca is small in size but immense if it knows how to look within. And the Pla, with its tranquility, is its beating heart.