The proclamation of King Felipe VI has undoubtedly been a breath of fresh air in a context of widespread disillusionment. With the prestige of the Crown diminished, his reign is full of challenges. In this sense, the King's speech has been promising, a mirror of a firm will to integrate Spaniards in an exciting project . Don Felipe has expressed his commitment to "watch over the dignity of the institution, preserve its prestige and observe a conduct of integrity, honesty and transparency, as befits his institutional role and his social responsibility". refund the lost luster to the Crown and accommodate the royal magistracy to the times is probably the first thing that will be demanded of him. Fortunately, for this he has a vote of confidence from so many Spaniards who recognize -and we recognize- his preparation.

The new King presented himself as "a loyal Head of State, ready to listen, to understand, to warn and to advise; and also to always defend the general interests". He professed "great respect for our history", and expressed his appreciation for the peoples of this "united and diverse" Spain, in which "we all fit". The integrating will that permeates all his speech deserves collective applause, in times when uneasiness usually leads to self-affirmation. Finally, he has opted for a parliamentary Monarchy "open and committed to the society it serves", "faithful and loyal interpreter of the aspirations and hopes of the citizens", willing to "share -and feel as their own- their successes and failures". In this line, there was no lack of support and affection for those most disadvantaged by the crisis and for the victims of terrorism. He has been, therefore, a King close to the people, who will surely make himself loved.

There is much more that could be gleaned from a speech, as I have anticipated, hopeful. I would not like to conclude these lines, however, without mentioning an omission that, being relevant in the whole of his speech, manifests, in my opinion, a more serious void in society. I am referring to the lack of transcendent references, since no mention has been made of God or the Christian roots of our people. Beyond our historical bequest and the social presence of the religious fact -which in itself would justify, in my opinion, some allusion-, the indifference gives testimony of a project from which the religious seems to be excluded, at least from public language. Very pluralistic and open societies have considered such references necessary and have built their foundations on them - it is enough to read, and I strongly recommend it, George Washington's Farewell Address . The King's speech is, with all its lights, a good occasion to warn of the risk of immanentism, of excluding God, of building a society recurva in seipsa, turned in on itself.