VATICAN CITY — The Vatican took on Spain’s socialist government yesterday, criticizing its social policies as the church beatified nearly 500 victims of leftist persecution during the country’s civil war era.

The ceremony was the largest mass beatification ever by the Vatican, which supported the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco during and after his war against the leftists.

Some in Spain questioned the timing of the beatification of the 498 martyrs, which came three days before Spain’s Parliament is expected to pass a socialist-sponsored law that will for the first time formally condemn Franco’s rule and order the removal of all fascist symbols from the country. Critics say the Vatican was hitting back at the government by simultaneously beatifying the two bishops, 24 priests, and 462 members of religious orders, as well as a deacon, a subdeacon, a seminary student, and seven lay Catholics. Since the late 1980s, the church has beatified nearly 500 other clergy killed in the war, but in a series of smaller ceremonies. The 1936–39 war pitted the elected leftist government against right-wing forces that rose up under Franco, who went on to preside over a nearly 40-year dictatorship.