🕊 Alicante commemorates European Juan Canto by naming a new square in his honor in the Vistahermosa district

The distinguished priest, diplomat and cultural figure became a symbol of European values and an ambassador of Alicante in the world

Alicante, 3 July 2025 - The City Hall of Alicante has dedicated the name of Juan Cantó Rubio to a new square in the residential area of Vistahermosa Norte , paying tribute to his contribution to the city, European diplomacy and cultural heritage. The inauguration of the commemorative plaque took place with the participation of Mayor Luis Barcala , representatives of the City Council and the Cantó family .

✝ Who is Juan Canto: priest, philosopher, diplomat and cultural educator

Juan Canto Rubio (1924–2021), a native of Melilla, served as chaplain of the Alicante Hospital from 1952, was rector of the Church of Mary Mother of the Church in the Vistahermosa area and remained deeply committed to education and dialogue until the end of his life.

👨🎓 His academic degrees include:

• Doctor of Philosophy and Literature (University of Valencia)
• Doctor of Theology (Pontifical University of Comillas)

👨🏫 He taught at the universities of Madrid, Valencia, Salamanca and Alicante , and was also an academician of Rome, Valencia and Mexico.

🇪🇺 Ambassador of European ideas and founder of the "Forum of European Diplomacy"

Cantó was a strong supporter of European integration long before Spain joined the EU. He founded the Forum Diplomático Europeo , an international platform bringing together hundreds of EU diplomats based in Alicante.

He was also:

• teacher at the School of Diplomacy in Madrid ,
• President of the Association of Young Diplomats of Alicante ,
• a permanent member of the European Documentation Centre at the city's Chamber of Commerce.

🖼 MACA's inspiration and custodian of the legacy of Eusebio Sempere

Thanks to his personal friendship with Eusebio Sempere , Cantó played a key role in the transfer of the artist's artistic legacy to the city of Alicante. This became the basis for the creation of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante (MACA) .

📚 Writer and journalist

Canto has written numerous articles and books, including:

• "Getting to know the European Union without effort"
• "New Diplomacy for the European Union"

He has collaborated with publications such as Diario Información , La Verdad and El Faro de Melilla .

🗣 Quote from the Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala:

"Alicante today pays back its debt of gratitude to an outstanding man: Juan Canto. His name should be known, because he was not just a priest, but a true intellectual, diplomat and ambassador of our city on the international stage."