Thousands of people have attended the beatification ceremony of Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire at the Armilla air base in Granada.
The air base has a capacity of 300,000 and for this event, 135,000 seats were set out near the altar. Six giant screens were erected so that all could follow the proceedings.
The act of beatification was presided over by the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Archbishop Angelo Amato, head of the Diocese of Sila (south of Naples), and began with an interpretation of Ave Maria by singer Rosa López.
Fray Leopoldo was a Capuchin monk, born in Alpandeire in 1866, and is particularly revered in eastern Andalucia.
Over 3,000 people were involved in organising the event, which cost around €3 million, and there were in the region of 150 accredited media representatives covering the ceremony.