Pope Leo XIV Begins Historic First Visit to Spain, Inaugurates Sagrada Familia Tower and Meets Migrants
The first American pope performed the viral internet hand signal on 6 June while beginning a week-long visit to Spain that includes stops in Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands.
The IndependentPope Leo XIV mimicked the viral ‘six-seven’ hand gesture while riding the popemobile through Madrid on Saturday, 6 June 2026. The 23-second video of the moment was titled 'Pope appears to mimic ‘6-7’ gesture during Madrid visit'. The gesture belongs to an internet meme often shown with an up-and-down weighing motion.
The Independent reported that the pope surprised the crowd by repeating the signal during the procession. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on 6 June for a week-long trip scheduled to end on 12 June. The visit marks his first journey to an EU country outside Italy.
During the trip he is scheduled to inaugurate a new tower at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica and to meet migrants who crossed dangerous Atlantic waters to reach Europe. Additional stops are planned at Montserrat Monastery and the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the west coast of Africa.
The first American head of the Catholic Church is expected to draw large crowds across the six-day itinerary.
