Overview
- Damián María Montes published a long statement on his social channels saying he will definitively stop exercising the priestly ministry and that he leaves "in peace and with a clear conscience."
- He attributed the decision to private "reasons of weight" that he declined to disclose and described nearly three years of inner struggle before deciding to step away.
- Montes said he plans to focus on education, poetry, theatre and literature and to continue producing content as an influencer and creator.
- He said he is free of celibacy vows and opened the door to a romantic relationship or forming a family, but the statement did not give personal details.
- The report that published his communiqué did not include a response from the Redemptorist order or any information about a formal canonical or laicization process, and his high public profile since La Voz in 2015 means follow-up coverage and institutional clarification are likely.