Overview
- Pope Leo XIV landed in Madrid on Saturday and opened the visit with a royal welcome and a large youth prayer vigil in the city.
- He is scheduled to become the first pope to address both chambers of the Spanish parliament on Monday, an event expected to focus on peace, dialogue and the dangers of political polarization.
- Midweek in Barcelona the pope will bless the Sagrada Familia’s newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ and celebrate Mass tied to the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death.
- The final two days will be in the Canary Islands, where Leo will meet migrants and aid groups and is expected to toss a wreath into the sea in memory of those who died on the Atlantic crossings.
- The Vatican confirmed a meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse during the trip, and Spanish authorities have deployed large security forces and accredited thousands of journalists as the visit plays out against deep secularization and political pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.