Religion

To be able to make longer mission journeys and institutionalize the cult, Clemente and
Manuel needed money and therefore devoted much time and effort to secure sufficient
funding. Donations at the site and the selling of collections of printed messages and
objects of piety were important, but the Palmarian movement could also count on much
more substantial bequests. According to testimonies, Manuel Alonso was very good at
convincing people to contribute large amounts for their cause. One of the most generous
donors, with whom they established contact in 1972 was a Spanish baroness, over
ninety years-old at the time, who also was an ardent supporter of Garabandal. Another
donor was a very wealthy woman from Wisconsin, who remained a main benefactor
until her death in 2001, and yet another was man from the same region, who has
continued to give substantial financial support. Still, the sums that Clemente and
Manuel managed to get from ordinary followers were very substantial (Garrido
Vázquez 2004, 2008; Diario de Sevilla October 5, 2003).

The capital influx meant that Clemente and Manuel could travel widely on both sides of
the Atlantic. Beginning in 1971, they went around most of Spain and other parts of
Western Europe to win people in traditionalist circles for the cause of Palmar. They
visited Rome, trying to convince members of the curia. Manuel Alonso later claimed
that they met Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviano, one of the most vocal critics of Vatican II,
who promised to forward a letter from them to Paul VI (Alfaro 1975; Alonso and
Canales 1976:145-58).

In 1974, Clemente and Manuel made a long journey together with Carmelo Pacheco
Sánchez, a Roman Catholic priest who was their closest companion. They went to
France, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Yugoslavia and Italy before returning to Spain. From
1971 onwards, the leaders also made several journeys to the Americas, to the United
States, Canada, Mexico and many countries in South America, trying to raise interest
and find economic support. In fact, until 1978 the leaders made almost ten journeys to
the New World. Also, during the journeys Clemente received visions, some at famous
apparition sites. The messages were thus no longer limited to the site of Palmar de
Troya; the Virgin obviously followed him around (Alonso and Canales 1976:150-58).

https://wrldrels.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Palmarian-Catholic-Church..pdf