Pope Leo XIV Begins Spain Visit, Praises Left-Wing Government’s Multilateralism and Peace Efforts While Addressing Clerical Abuse Scandal
The 70-year-old pontiff arrived in Madrid on Saturday for a week-long trip that includes meetings with abuse victims and an address to parliament. Euronews reported the visit will also cover immigration and social justice.
EuronewsPope Leo XIV called for an end to "polarising narratives" and "sterile simplifications" on Saturday as he began a week-long visit to Spain. -born pontiff, 70, spoke at the royal palace in Madrid after being received by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
He thanked Spain for its "faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism" and praised its "active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples".
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has clashed with President Donald Trump over Iran and with Israel over the war in Gaza. The pope himself has faced criticism from Trump for his anti-war views. Leo 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 pre-conceived ideologies".
Spain's left-wing government maintains a relatively liberal immigration policy compared with many European allies, though it faces pressure from the conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox party. Later on Saturday, Leo met beneficiaries of a Caritas centre for the homeless and extolled the charity's work against "secular ideologies" and those who "dismiss or ridicule charitable works".
In the evening, he led a prayer vigil next to Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
An official tally put attendance at 500,000, mostly young people. The crowd gave him a rock-star welcome with chants, cheers, Spanish and Vatican flags; youngsters danced and jumped in circles before his arrival. The visit will include an unprecedented address to the Spanish parliament and a meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
