Pope Leo gathered 1.2 million people for Mass in Madrid
This is according to The Guardian. According to the Vatican and local organisers, around 1.2 million people attended the mass in central Madrid.
In Madrid, over 1.2 million people attended an open-air mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV.
The service took place in Cibeles Square and the surrounding streets as part of the pontiff’s week-long visit to Spain. According to Vatican News, it was a Mass to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi.
People stood along the barriers, waving flags and greeting the Pope as he arrived in the white popemobile. AP reports that the event was accompanied by a traditional procession, flower carpets and elements of Spanish religious culture.
What Pope Leo said
During his homily, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to demonstrate their faith through concrete acts of help towards others.
He emphasised that God stands alongside the poor, the oppressed, the lonely and the abandoned. Reuters notes that the main focus of his address was compassion, service to others and support for the vulnerable.
Vatican News also reports that the pontiff urged Spaniards not to turn the religiosity that has shaped the country for centuries into a “museum of the past”, but to see it as a living school of faith.
Visit to Spain
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain runs from 6 to 12 June.
According to the Vatican’s official programme, it began with a welcoming ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, a meeting with the King and Queen of Spain, representatives of the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
The Pope also visited a social project for people in difficult life circumstances and held a prayer gathering with young people in Madrid. AP reports that around 600,000 people attended the youth gathering the day before.
Migrants, young people and an appeal to politicians
During his trip, Pope Leo is focusing on the themes of migration, social support and respect for human dignity.
Reuters reports that he has already met with migrants and the homeless, and is also due to visit Barcelona and the Canary Islands. There, the pontiff plans to meet with people who risked their lives trying to reach Europe from West Africa.
The Guardian notes that the Pope has also called on political leaders not to divide society and not to use fears surrounding migration for political gain.
The Key to Madrid
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV received the key to Madrid from the city’s mayor.
In the guest book, he expressed his hope that the Spanish capital would remain a welcoming and inclusive city, where public life is based on genuine human values.
What next
After Madrid, Pope Leo XIV is set to continue his tour of Spain.
The Vatican’s official programme includes events in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands between 6 and 12 June.
According to The Guardian, this is the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years.
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