Pope Leo XIV Begins Official Seven-Day Visit to Spain, Meets King and Queen in Madrid
The pontiff arrived Saturday and was received at the Royal Palace by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. He praised Spain's commitment to peace, international law, and support for migrants.
Al JazeeraPope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on Saturday to begin a seven-day official visit to Spain. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia welcomed him at the Royal Palace. During the reception the Pope praised Spain's active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples and its faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism.
He also highlighted the Spanish government's opposition to wars and its support for migrants. The Pope said the message of peace at present unfortunately strikes some as naive and others as confrontational but should be welcomed by those who do not shut themselves off in preconceived ideologies. During the visit Pope Leo XIV will meet victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
He will also meet groups that assist migrants and is scheduled to deliver an address before the Spanish parliament. On the flight to Spain the Pope told reporters that sexual abuse remained an open wound for the Church. 1 percent of the population, or 440,000 people, had suffered sexual abuse by clergy or individuals linked to the Church.
Later in the trip Pope Leo XIV will travel to the Canary Islands, where he will be joined by government officials to honor migrants who died attempting to reach Europe. Nearly 47,000 people reached the islands in 2024, and one Spanish non-government organization estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Spain's immigration policy includes plans to grant legal status to some 500,000 undocumented migrants.
When asked by a reporter whether he preferred Barcelona or Real Madrid, the Pope replied that he supported all teams but added, using his birth name, that Prevost is for Real Madrid.
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