Rosa María Durán Gili, Catalan cultural figure in Mexico, dies at 99

Rosa María Durán Gili, a prominent Catalan cultural figure and scholar in exile, has passed away at the age of 99. Born in Barcelona in 1927 to a family of intellectuals, her early life was shaped by the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent Franco dictatorship.

After fleeing to France during the war, Durán and her family eventually reached Mexico thanks to visas facilitated by Gilberto Bosques, the Mexican consul in Marseille. In Mexico, she became a vital pillar for the Catalan community, dedicating over six decades to preserving Catalan language, culture, and memory.

Durán studied at the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM) and later completed postgraduate studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. Her contributions to cultural diplomacy and her role in building bridges between Catalonia and Mexico earned her the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2022. Her death has been marked by condolences from the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and various cultural institutions.