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In Seville, Spain, a restoration of the beloved 17th-century statue of Mary Most Holy of Hope Macarena (Our Lady of Hope of Macarena) has sparked backlash from local Catholics.
Unveiled 20 June, the restored image appeared with longer eyelashes and a paler face, changes that many said distorted her traditional sorrowful expression.
Archbishop José Ángel Saiz Meneses responded on social media, urging unity and forgiveness, writing, “Mary … wants us united, as brothers and sisters.”
The Confraternity of the Macarena, which commissioned the work, admitted to the “unintended aesthetic alteration” and issued two public apologies.
They’ve since reversed some changes and pledged further review by heritage experts. Critics argue the statue is a cultural treasure belonging to all of Seville—not just the confraternity.
Amid mounting pressure, two people charged with the statue’s care have resigned. The controversy underscores how deeply Marian devotion and religious imagery remain woven into Spain’s Catholic identity and local tradition.