Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Corpus Domini Mass in Madrid with Hundreds of Thousands in Attendance

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a central Madrid plaza on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV’s main Mass and a procession that featured 16 flower carpets along a half-kilometer route. ” as the pontiff arrived and circled the plaza and surrounding streets in his popemobile, passing barricades lined several rows deep. The Mass took place on the Catholic Corpus Domini feast day.

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday to begin the weeklong visit. At a vigil service that evening, an estimated 600,000 young Spaniards knelt in silent prayer with him for several minutes. ” Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal held up a cardboard sign announcing their June 13 wedding and received the pope’s blessing.

Valda later said, “To see so many young people together, it's incredible. ” The flower carpets were prepared by a Spanish florists association from Galicia using more than 30,000 yellow and white flowers, the colors of the Holy See flag, along with decorations such as the Holy See keys.

The tradition of laying and then trampling the carpets dates back two centuries and is viewed as an offering to the Eucharist.

Poland’s Corpus Domini flower-carpet tradition has already been recognized by UNESCO. Spain’s Galicia region is seeking similar recognition for its version as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Upon arrival Saturday, Pope Leo XIV urged Spaniards to end polarization and work for unity.

Later Sunday he is scheduled to meet privately with members of his Augustinian religious order and address cultural leaders.