Pope Leo XIV begins first papal visit to Spain in 15 years

Pope Leo XIV has begun a week-long visit to Spain, arriving in Madrid for the first papal trip to the country in 15 years. The visit opened with meetings at the royal palace, where he was received by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Later in the day, he led a large prayer vigil near Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, drawing an official tally of 500,000 people.

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During his first public remarks in Spain, the pope called for an end to "polarising narratives" and "sterile simplifications". He thanked Spain for what he described as its "faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism" and praised its "active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples". He also said the message of peace can be seen by some as naive or confrontational, but should be welcomed by those who do not shut themselves off in pre-conceived ideologies.

The visit is expected to focus on immigration, social justice and inequality, as well as the Catholic Church's response to sexual abuse. Leo later met beneficiaries of a centre for the homeless run by Caritas, where he praised the charity's mission and criticised those who dismiss charitable works. He is also due to give an unprecedented address to the Spanish parliament and meet victims of sexual abuse within the Church.

The pope told reporters before landing in Madrid that abuse remained "an open wound". The trip comes at a politically sensitive moment in Spain, where the left-wing government has a relatively liberal immigration policy but faces pressure from the conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox. It also comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has clashed with US President Donald Trump over Iran and with Israel over the war in Gaza.

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Leo's comments on peace, multilateralism and immigration place the visit at the intersection of religious diplomacy and domestic political debate. The issue of abuse remains central to the wider significance of the trip. A 2023 report from Spain's national ombudsman estimated that around 200,000 minors may have suffered abuse in the country since 1940.

King Felipe said the pope's clarity and firmness on the issue were essential to healing and reparation. The planned meeting with victims is likely to keep attention on how the Church in Spain addresses past failures and whether further steps will follow. What remains unclear is how far the pope will go in addressing Spain's political divisions during the rest of the visit.

It is also not yet clear what concrete outcomes, if any, will emerge from his meetings with lawmakers, church leaders and abuse survivors. The scale of the prayer vigil suggests strong public interest, but the longer-term impact will depend on the messages delivered in parliament and in the remaining days of the trip.

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