On Friday, September 7, priest Anastasio Gil García, doctor from the School of Theology of Pamplona in 1982 and professor of Religious Pedagogy at the University of Navarra from 1972 to 2004, died in Madrid. Since 2016 he was director of Pontifical Missionary Works of Spain, and director of the Secretariat of the Episcopal Commission for Missions of the Spanish Episcopal lecture .

He was born on January 11, 1946 in Veganzones (Segovia). He was ordained a priest at the age of 24. Incardinado in the diocese of Madrid, member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, he exercised his ministry as chaplain and religion teacher in the high school Montealto of Madrid, in the parish Nuestra Señora de la Asunción of Algete and in the parish of San Jorge of Madrid. graduate in Theology by the University of Comillas was also diploma holder in Educational Psychology. He worked in different positions in the Spanish Episcopal lecture , where his good work and prudent judgment were appreciated.

He was a very dear person, as witnessed by the hundreds of Spanish missionaries spread throughout the world, to whom he dedicated his best energies. He gave decisive impetus to the missionary renewal of the Church in Spain, tirelessly visiting the dioceses, encouraging the delegations, institutions and missionary services, promoting an intense awareness of mission statement in all areas.

Cardinal Carlos Osoro, Archbishop of Madrid, summed up his priestly personality in the homily he delivered at the mortuary in Madrid: "Honesty, fidelity and spirit of sacrifice". And we can make our own the words that a good friend of his said to Mons. Osoro on that occasion: "Do not pray for our friend Anastasio, pray for all of us so that he may protect us".

Jaume Pujol, Archbishop of Tarragona and professor at School until 2004, he was a faithful person, a hard worker, with a great affection and demand towards his students: "For more than 30 years -from 1973 to 2004- we spent every summer in Pamplona, first at the department of Pastoral and catechesis and then at the high school Superior of Religious Sciences. With him I have written more than thirty books. My appointment as Archbishop of Tarragona caught me writing with him and the priest Mateo Blanco the fourth book of Religion for ESO, the last of the eight that the three of us signed: four for the student and four for the teacher.

Since I learned from him that he had a very malignant cancer, I have been able to see his fortitude in the face of his illness, offering his pain to the Lord, and never leaving his work for the good of the missions and his beloved Pontifical Mission Societies. A great person has gone, for me I can say it now, my best friend. I have many things to ask of him, I am sure he will be a great intercessor in heaven".