Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Papal Mass in Spain in 15 Years, Drawing Over One Million in Madrid

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid on Sunday, drawing more than one million people who lined the streets. The pontiff traveled through the city in a popemobile on the second day of his official visit.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended the morning service. Worshippers waved Spanish and Vatican flags, shouted "long live the Pope," and threw petals as the Pope arrived. Streets were decorated with banners bearing the Pope's face and thousands of white and yellow carnations.

Authorities mounted a major security operation for the Mass and the subsequent procession through central Madrid. " Pope Leo XIV hailed Spain as a "school of faith" and urged unity amid the crowds. On Saturday evening, approximately 500,000 people, most of them young, attended a prayer vigil near Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The vigil stretched into the night. " On Saturday, he praised the Spanish government's opposition to global conflicts and its support for migrants during a reception at the royal palace. " Marta Perez, 30, told AFP: "I have come to meet Jesus Christ through the words of the Pope.

The visit is the first by a pope to Spain in some 15 years. It includes an address before the Spanish parliament and a meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV began his week-long trip to Spain on Saturday and is scheduled to visit the Canary Islands with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez later in the week to honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.