The OAFI Foundation and UMAS Seguros launch the project ‘Faith without Barriers – OAFI with You’ to improve the quality of life of religious people with osteoarticular problems.

• Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are the most common joint diseases in Spain and one of the main causes of disability in older people, with a significant physical, emotional and social impact.
• ‘Faith Without Barriers – OAFI With You’ was created to prevent, detect, and treat osteoarticular pain in religious communities.
• The pilot project is being launched in Barcelona with the support and funding of the insurance company and will gradually be extended to the whole of Spain.

Barcelona, 23rd February 2026. The OAFI Foundation (International Foundation for Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis) and UMAS Seguros have launched the project ‘Faith without Barriers – OAFI with You’, a pioneering initiative that combines spirituality and community health to improve the quality of life of religious people with mobility problems resulting from diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or sarcopenia.

The programme was created following the work of OAFI through its Solidarity Clinic, led by Dr Josep Vergés, president of the Foundation, where a growing number of visitors from religious communities were found to be unaware of these pathologies, the causes of their pain and how to deal with it appropriately.

‘Faith Without Barriers’ responds to a growing social reality: the high prevalence of osteoarticular diseases in elderly religious groups, which causes chronic pain, mobility limitations and a direct impact on their emotional and spiritual well-being.

UMAS Seguros is fully funding the pilot project, providing the financial resources necessary for its implementation and continuity, and actively supporting the institutional and operational coordination of the programme. In addition, it is making its network of mutual society members available to the project as a basis for the implementation of this first phase, facilitating access to religious communities and ensuring that the initiative effectively reaches those who need it most.

Currently, Spain has 27,006 nuns, 8,326 cloistered nuns, 16,126 priests, 8,501 religious brothers and sisters, and more than 4,000 religious communities. It is estimated that 15.5% have osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine, 13.8% have osteoarthritis of the knee, 10% have osteoarthritis of the hip and 7% have osteoarthritis of the hand, which limits their quality of life and makes essential tasks such as kneeling, standing for long periods of time or moving around independently difficult.

During March 2026, together with the Diocesan Secretariat for Pastoral Care of Health of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, the pilot phase of the programme will be developed at the Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp (Barcelona), reaching up to 150 parishes in the first phase, with plans to gradually extend it to the whole country.

The project also has the institutional support of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and has been presented to His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, reinforcing its social, community and spiritual dimensions.

A comprehensive view of faith and health

‘Faith Without Barriers – OAFI With You’ aims to promote healthy spirituality and change the perception of pain, moving from understanding it as something inevitable that must be accepted to a problem that can be prevented, treated and improved.

Through practical training in health, exercise, nutrition and fall prevention, personalised screening with non-invasive tests to detect the risk of pain and fractures, complemented by individualised medical follow-up at the OAFI Solidarity Clinic, OAFI Contigo will ensure dignified and active religious participation, improving the autonomy of beneficiaries and reducing absenteeism due to health problems.

Dr Josep Vergés, president and founder of OAFI, states: ‘For years we have seen how many religious people normalise pain as part of their vocation. With OAFI Contigo we want to show that taking care of our body and well-being is a fundamental part of spirituality.’

Dr Carmen Benito, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Health Secretariat, adds: ‘This programme is a response to a silent need experienced by many people in our community. It is essential that they live their faith with greater dignity, autonomy and well-being. For example, improving their knee osteoarthritis will allow them to kneel better so they can practise their faith.’

Anastasio Gómez, CEO of UMAS Seguros, comments: ‘At UMAS, we understand protection as more than just coverage against risk. To protect is to guarantee the continuity of the mission of those who sustain the social, educational and spiritual life of our country. That is why we wanted to promote this project, providing it with all the necessary resources.’

With ‘Faith without Barriers – OAFI Contigo’, the OAFI Foundation and UMAS Seguros are reinforcing their commitment to preventive, accessible, humane healthcare tailored to vulnerable groups, integrating the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of well-being.

About OAFI

Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) is the first and only non-profit foundation in the world dedicated exclusively to people suffering from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other osteoarticular conditions. Founded in 2016 and based in Barcelona, OAFI leads the global fight for joint health, promoting education, prevention, research and patient support programmes. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of those living with these conditions by promoting early detection, self-care and patient empowerment.

Through international conferences, awareness campaigns, scientific projects and collaborations, OAFI works to place joint health at the centre of the health and social agenda.

https://www.oafifoundation.com/

About UMAS Insurance

UMAS is a mutual insurance company founded in 1981, specialising in protecting religious institutions, educational establishments, non-profit associations, residences, foundations and professionals in the social and educational fields. Its mutual, non-profit model prioritises the well-being and safety of its members, offering specific coverage such as civil liability, property, accident, life and health insurance.

Headquartered in Madrid and with a presence throughout Spain through a network of offices and branches, UMAS combines in-depth knowledge of the sector with personalised and friendly service. The insurer is firmly committed to the values of solidarity, trust and responsibility, working every day to offer ethical, sustainable insurance solutions tailored to the particular needs of each member.

For further information

Luis Bellido Requena

lbellido@nitid.com

T. +34 91 702 47 65

NITID