León hosts investiture ceremony for Order of Saint Lazarus

The Basilica of San Isidoro in León served as the venue for the investiture of new knights and dames of the Grand Priory of Spain of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. The ceremony, which included a mass presided over by Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, marked the induction of new members into the centuries-old Christian chivalric institution.

The event featured an international presence, with members of the Order attending from the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Slovakia, and Venezuela. Local authorities, including the Bishop of León, Luis Ángel de las Heras, and the Abbot of San Isidoro, Luis García Gutiérrez, were also in attendance.

Founded in the 12th century in Jerusalem, the Order of Saint Lazarus has a historical focus on providing care for the sick, particularly those with leprosy. Today, the organization maintains a global presence with approximately 4,000 members across 42 jurisdictions in 37 countries, conducting various sanitary, social, and humanitarian projects.