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Pope Leo XIV connected Saturday (June 6, 2026) called for an extremity to "polarising narratives" and "sterile simplifications" connected a sojourn to Spain expected to absorption connected the divisive contented of immigration.
Pope Leo besides thanked Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran and with Israel implicit the warfare successful Gaza, for its "faithful adherence to planetary instrumentality and multilateralism".
Speaking astatine the royal palace successful Madrid, wherever helium was received by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, helium praised Spain's "active committedness to bid and solidarity among peoples". The U.S.-born pontiff himself has been harshly criticised by Mr. Trump for his anti-war views.
He said the connection of bid "at contiguous unluckily strikes immoderate arsenic naive and others arsenic confrontational" but should alternatively beryllium "welcomed by those who bash not unopen themselves disconnected successful preconceived ideologies".
In opposition with galore of its European allies, Spain nether Sanchez's left-wing authorities has a comparatively wide migration policy. But the authorities is nether unit from the main blimpish Popular Party and far-right, anti-immigration Vox, the 3rd governmental unit successful the country.
Among the attendees who stood up and applauded Pope Leo's code was Vox person Santiago Abascal, who has spearheaded virulent disapproval of the left-wing authorities connected migration among different matters.
Open wound
The seven-day State visit, besides acceptable to absorption connected societal justness and inequality, volition see an unprecedented code to the Spanish parliament and a gathering with victims of intersexual maltreatment wrong the Catholic Church.
Speaking to reporters connected the level earlier landing successful the Spanish capital, Pope Leo said maltreatment remained "an unfastened wound". Some 200,000 minors are estimated to person suffered maltreatment successful Spain since 1940, according to a 2023 study from Spain's nationalist ombudsman.
King Felipe hailed the pope's "clarity and firmness" connected the issue, saying they were "essential successful the process of healing and reparation of the harm inflicted". Sanchez's authorities and the Catholic Church successful Spain signed an statement successful March to compensate victims aft years of reticence and opacity from the Church hierarchy.
Later connected Saturday (June 6, 2026), the 70-year-old pontiff volition pb a supplication vigil adjacent Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium wherever 400,000 mostly young radical are expected. Pope Leo told journalists connected the level helium was "very pleased by the reports" that young radical were progressively funny successful the Catholic Church.
"They realise there's an emptiness, and a deficiency of a consciousness of meaning, and possibly my visiting is helping to awaken adjacent further something," helium said. His accomplishment successful Madrid coincides with a bid of concerts by Puerto Rican prima Bad Bunny, with immoderate observers pointing to younker being torn betwixt spirituality and music.
"I deliberation galore volition spot Bad Bunny. But I deliberation determination volition besides beryllium a fewer present to spot the pope. And that says something," Pope Leo said of the conflicting loyalties.
Focus connected migration
On Sunday (June 7, 2026), astir a cardinal radical are acceptable to be the Pope's wide successful Madrid metropolis centre. Pope Leo volition past question to Barcelona wherever connected Wednesday (June 10, 2026) helium volition bless the caller operation of the Sagrada Familia Basilica — present the world's tallest church.
In the Canary Islands connected Thursday (June 11, 2026) and Friday (June 12, 2026), Pope Leo volition beryllium joined by Sanchez to honour thousands of migrants who person died trying to scope Europe. The Canaries — Spanish islands disconnected the seashore of westbound Africa — person go the main introduction constituent for irregular migrants into Spain aft agelong and unsafe trips from Africa.
The UN's International Organization for Migration estimates 1,172 migrants died oregon went missing on the way successful 2025 — a fig lone somewhat little than the 1,215 radical successful 2024. Some 15,000 members of the nationalist constabulary and Guardia Civil are being deployed for the visit, alongside section constabulary forces.
Pope Leo's predecessor Francis mostly overlooked galore of Europe's accepted bastions of Catholicism where, similar Spain, spiritual observance has been falling rapidly.
