Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Spain for First Papal Visit in 15 Years

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on Saturday for a week-long visit, the first by a pope to Spain in 15 years. The American pope, who has Spanish ancestry, was greeted at the airport by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In his welcome address, Pope Leo XIV called on Spaniards and their political leaders to stop fanning the flames of polarization.

He urged them to educate young people to appreciate diversity rather than reject it and recalled Spain’s history as a site of dialogue between different religions and cultures during its Moorish period. Spain’s parliament is preparing for the first papal address to both chambers, scheduled for Monday.

The visit comes as the Socialist-led government faces corruption scandals and opposition criticism over its migration policies, while the Catholic Church continues to address revelations of past clergy abuse.

Polling data show the share of Spaniards identifying as Catholic fell from 90 percent in the 1970s to 55 percent in 2025, with only 19 percent attending Mass regularly. Sociologist Narciso Michavila Núñez said recent surveys indicate renewed interest in spirituality among younger Spaniards.

After Madrid, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Barcelona to celebrate Mass at the Sagrada Familia basilica on the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death and to inaugurate a new tower.

He will end the trip with a two-day visit to the Canary Islands, where he plans to meet migrants who crossed the Atlantic and to lay a wreath at sea in memory of those who died during the crossing. The Vatican confirmed late Friday that Pope Leo XIV will also meet survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

The pope told reporters that abuses are still an open wound and that he could meet only a limited number of survivors.