"Satan is governing in the Vatican," Gregorio was told in a vision in 1971, according to one booklet. A year later he was told, "Masons and Communism have infiltrated the Vatican."
Gregorio lost his sight in a 1976 car crash but the Virgin Mary promised he will regain it one day, church documents say.
Two years later Paul VI died and Clemente Dominguez, on a trip to Colombia, proclaimed himself pope.
Most of his followers -- who say their donations built the church -- come from abroad, where they say they heard about the movement in books or by word-of-mouth.
Spanish locals say they are unimpressed although some believe the Virgin Mary appeared there before the basilica -- which dwarfs the parish church -- was founded.
visions
Church documents say the young Clemente Dominguez went to El Palmar initially because he heard about the apparitions.
"The people in the village don't believe in these things although there are 70 witnesses, serious people, who have seen apparitions," said a 51-year-old man who declined to be named.
The Roman Catholic church in Seville takes neither the church nor the apparitions seriously.
These days "Pope Gregorio" rarely ventures beyond his walled complex although he used to be seen in bars and restaurants around town in El Palmar and nearby Seville, locals say.
The corpulent leader does not always lead services but appears for special occasions.
But Pura Hernandez, a 76-year-old woman from Barcelona, said that his presence was overwhelming.
"I saw him once in ecstasy. There were so many angels," she whispered piously.
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