After the judicial victory, the Jeronimas propose a religious, social or educational future for Santa Isabel

PalmaThe Federation of Monasteries of Hieronymite Nuns of Saint Paula is studying the future of the Santa Isabel de Palma monastery and has made it clear that they will prioritize its use for religious purposes, if possible, to house a community of nuns. Among other options, they have pointed to the possibility of dedicating the convent to social or educational use, as Saint Jerome was dedicated to teaching Christian morality. In any case, the Hieronymite order is clear that the convent will not, under any circumstances, be converted into a hotel, and they have pointed to this possibility as "unfounded rumor-mongering" from the time of Bishop Javier Salinas.

This future analysis comes after the Supreme Court dismissed the cassation appeal filed by the Diocese of Mallorca against the sentence of the Provincial Court which recognizes that the Hieronymite nuns are the owners of the convent located at the gates of the La Calatrava neighborhood. This was explained this Tuesday by the president of the Federation and prioress of the monastery, Ángeles Sanz, and the lawyer who represented the nuns for the twelve years the litigation lasted to clarify the ownership of the building, Maria del Pilar Rosselló.

"One chapter is ending, and with all our hope, we are opening another where we begin to work together with the Council. I am sure we will find a good purpose for this sacred place," said the religious. In this regard, the lawyer celebrated that the judicial process has ended with a true victory and allows for new paths to be opened to determine the future of Santa Isabel. "We have just come out of the lawsuit and the question of what will house the property still needs to be studied," explained Rosselló, who pointed to some options that could be carried out, taking into account the legal and patrimonial characteristics of the place, as the lawyer recalled that the Hieronymites are an order governed by pontifical law. That is to say, any process related to the monastery, whether for sale or rent, will be monitored, tutored, and overseen by the Holy See.

In this context, he referred to the guidelines that the Holy See provides for governing the legal life of religious institutions under its mandate. "These instructions make it clear that these stones, this art, speak and have an evangelizing function. And, therefore, the indication to maintain, if possible, religious life is insisted upon. And if not, to seek a destiny that is compatible with the order's plan," he pointed out. The Holy See, he continued, allows for different solutions for this type of historic property as long as they allow "the reason for being" of the religious order "to survive in another way." "Whether by reconciling worship in the Church, attention to artistic and historical heritage, or by reconciling a social, educational purpose compatible with this survival of the charismatic plan," the lawyer stressed.

The only project that, over more than a decade during which the property of the building has been awaiting a judicial resolution, they explained, has been the one presented by the entity Amadip Esment, which works with people with intellectual disabilities.

It has also been open to other possibilities, such as reconciling a university use, "it would be fantastic," he added-- with the exhibition of the "very valuable" sacred art collections that the Hieronymite order treasures. "The legal formulas can be very many, whether it is a lease, a rental...", pointed out Rosselló. In a similar vein, the Cistercian monk and religious assistant of the Hieronymite Federation of Santa Paula, Enrique Triguero, expressed himself, entrusting the future of the property to God.

"The ideal is for a community of Hieronymite nuns to live here. God seems to be blessing some communities of the order with vocations. In the future, not in the near future but in the medium term, this possibility could be contemplated. But in the meantime, we will have to see the process, because right now nothing is planned," he indicated. Nor has he ruled out the possibility that nuns from another religious congregation could establish themselves in the monastery, for which it would be necessary to open a dialogue process with the Diocese of Mallorca, which, for the moment, has not even been considered.

The conservator, restorer, and head of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel, Pere Terrasa, assured that the structure of the building is in good condition thanks to the work carried out over all these years. "Could a congregation be installed tomorrow? Yes. It is not a modern monastery, it is true, but it is habitable," he affirmed.

The structure of the building and the heritage, in good condition

Terrasa has also reviewed his work on the preservation of the artistic, cultural and historical heritage of the Monastery of Santa Isabel, with which he has worked over these years, and which, he assured, is in good condition.

Three inventories have been drawn up: one of paintings and sculptures, another of 15th-century altars, and another of liturgical vestments, which are in the hands of both the Consell de Mallorca --the main body responsible for heritage policies-- and the Holy See. In addition, work is underway on an inventory of ceramics and another on furniture. Added to this is the restoration of a wall and the roof, which was affected by a 'whirlwind'. Also, several paintings, such as those by Ramon Llull, *Saint *Honorat and Saint Anthony, or the embroideries by Antoni Gaudí, which have been the subject of various exhibitions. The archive and works of art were temporarily transferred to the chapter house of Inca, where they are in "good condition". "Things are not mixed up, as they say. The work has been carried out with light and stenographers," he concluded.