More than 30,000 carnations filled the centre of Madrid for the Corpus Christi procession led by the Holy Father during his apostolic visit to Spain.

The Asociación de Alfombristas del Corpus Christi de Ponteareas (Association of Corpus Christi Carpet Makers of Ponteareas) was responsible for bringing the floral display to the Spanish capital. Located in the south of the province of Pontevedra, Ponteareas is internationally recognised for its Corpus Christi celebrations, a tradition that residents have maintained for more than 200 years by creating spectacular carpets made from flowers and natural plant materials for the procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

This form of ephemeral floral art is considered one of the most important expressions of Galician cultural heritage. The celebration has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest and, in April 2024, was granted Cultural Interest status by the Xunta de Galicia.

The decorations, known as floral carpets, covered more than 500 metres of Calle de Alcalá, one of Madrid’s longest streets. Miguel Ángel García of the Association of Corpus Christi Carpet Makers of Ponteareas explained: “The carpets of Ponteareas are much more than an artistic expression; they are a manifestation of faith passed down from generation to generation. The carpets are made in honour of the Blessed Sacrament. That this tradition can form part of the Corpus Christi celebrations in Madrid, coinciding with the visit of Pope Leo XIV, is a recognition of the work of hundreds of people who, for more than two hundred years, have kept this heritage alive.”

Twenty-four carpet makers from Ponteareas worked alongside more than 160 volunteers to create the artwork in honour of the Blessed Sacrament.

Accompanied by other clergy, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as well as children who made their First Holy Communion this year, the Pope processed from Plaza de Cibeles along Calle de Alcalá towards Gran Vía and the Church of San José before returning to Cibeles. An estimated 1.2 million people attended, a substantial crowd and around 20 per cent more than the number reported to have welcomed Saint John Paul II during his 2003 visit.

Photo credit: Marcos Nogales