Mayor of Llanes receives the PGI of the Society of St Vincent de Paul

Photo: Maiche Perela, Mónica Remis, Mar García, Mayor Enrique Riestra, the PGI, and Priscila Alonso.

The Mayor of the town of Llanes (Asturias, Spain), Enrique Riestra, accompanied by several members of the Municipal Council, received the President General International of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Juan Manuel Buergo, on a courtesy visit, in recognition of his family ties to the municipality of Llanes.

The President was accompanied by Maiche Perela, a lawyer, writer and renowned promoter of the cultural and artistic heritage of this picturesque medieval and maritime town.

During the meeting, the PGI presented the work carried out worldwide by the International Confederation of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP), which is present in 155 countries, with more than two million members and volunteers and a social investment of over €1.89 billion during the 2026 financial year.

The President also presented the social work carried out by the SSVP in Spain and, in particular, in Asturias. In this context, the Mayor and Priscila Alonso, Councillor for Social Services, expressed their willingness to support the formation of a volunteer group to visit and accompany older people living in residential care homes and help combat unwanted loneliness.

Mayor Enrique Riestra was accompanied by the Councillor for Culture and Social Services, Priscila Alonso; the Councillor for Rural Affairs, María del Mar García Poo; the Councillor for the Town, Mónica Remis; and the Councillor for Urban Planning, Juan Carlos Armas.

The meeting took place in a particularly warm and cordial atmosphere, marked by the International President General’s Asturian and Llanes roots and by the historical and human ties that unite the Society of St Vincent de Paul with the town.

As a token of recognition and affection, the SSVP was presented with a silver-engraved badge bearing the coat of arms of Llanes, which was given to the President General.

On behalf of the entire Confederation, the President thanked Llanes Town Council for the warm welcome and attention received, highlighting in particular the significance of returning to his homeland during the month of August and sharing with the local authorities the mission of serving the most vulnerable people, which inspires the values of the Society of St Vincent de Paul.