The jewels stolen from the Plasencia cathedral are valued at more than one million euros: "They knew what they wanted"

Efe

Updated Monday, March 25, 2024-20:02

The bishop of

Plasencia

(

Cáceres

), Ernesto Brotóns, has stated about the theft in the cathedral museum that "it hurts in the soul" because not only have they stolen, among other pieces, "a precious and precious jewel, of incalculable value, but a little piece, not small, of the hearts of the people of Placentia".

In the robbery, carried out during the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, the thieves took from the museum the crown of the image of the Virgin of Puerto, patron saint of the capital of Jerte, and that of the baby Jesus, as well as a pair of pectoral crosses and episcopal rings.

In a message addressed to the faithful, Brotóns has revealed that the crowns were "forged thanks to the love and devotion of our elders, rich and poor. Two stolen crowns, witnesses of many tears, prayers, supplications, remembrance and tender memory and grateful for our ancestors, for our elders".

"Even though I am aware that it sounds naive, and perhaps it is, I ask whoever has taken this treasure from us to

reconsider and return it

," said the prelate.

Likewise, Brotóns has joined "

the Cabildo's invitation

to pray for the prompt recovery of the stolen goods, also with full confidence in police action."

"We are fully available for the ongoing investigation," he assured. Likewise, the bishop has encouraged the faithful to "never forget that the most precious crown for our lady of the Port is us, her children."

According to a work by José Pajuelo, Pedro Luna and José Gutiérrez Delgado, the crowns of the Virgin and Child, in the Plateresque style, are "of the purest gold."

2,261 grams of gold, more than 85 of platinum, 124 brilliants, 1,377 roses, 15 pearls, a Japanese pearl, 39 half pearls, 506 seed pearls, 44 turquoises, 53 emeralds, 175 topazes, 100 olivines, and 12 were used in its execution. tourmalines.

On the back of the crown there are four enamels with the shields of the Pope, Bishop Pedro Zarránz y Pueyo, the cathedral and the city of Plasencia. The crown of the Virgin is topped by a very fine dove.