Overview
- Organizers said about 1.2 million people attended Pope Leo’s open‑air Corpus Christi Mass and flower‑carpet procession in Madrid on Sunday, and roughly 600,000 young people joined a vigil the night before.
- On Monday the pope delivered a rare address to Spain’s parliament calling for respect for migrants’ rights, stronger multilateral law, limits on automated weapons and a wider 'moral renewal' in public life.
- Leo told Spain’s bishops they must listen to abuse survivors and provide truth, justice and reparation, and the Vatican confirmed a meeting with victims will take place during the visit.
- The trip will continue with planned stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands focused on migrants and marginalised people, and some planned monastery visits and the handling of survivor meetings have drawn local controversy.
- The visit signals a renewed public role for the Catholic Church in a largely secular Spain and comes as the country implements pro‑immigration measures and reckons with a large clergy abuse toll documented in recent reporting.