Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Spain for his first apostolic to the country. Our photo gallery captures the Holy Father’s arrival in Madrid, his meeting with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, the official welcome at the Royal Palace, and the opening moments of a visit focused on evangelisation, youth and the Church’s charitable mission
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on Saturday to begin his first apostolic journey to Spain, a visit centred on evangelisation, youth and the Church’s charitable mission. During a packed opening day, the Pope met King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace, addressed political leaders and diplomats, visited a Cáritas centre serving people experiencing homelessness, and concluded the day before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of young people gathered for a prayer vigil in Plaza de Lima.
Pope Leo XIV arrives at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport to begin his first apostolic journey to Spain, which will last until 12 June. The Holy Father is greeted by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. At Madrid airport, the Pope is also greeted by the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez’s government has been responsible for some of the most aggressively secular and anti-Catholic laws the country has ever experienced, notably limiting religious education in Catholic schools and introducing assisted suicide. Pope Leo XIV arrives for a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace of Madrid, where both the Spanish national anthem and the Pontifical Hymn are performed .(Photo credit: EFE/J.J. Guillén POOL)The Holy Father meets His Majesty King Felipe VI, Her Majesty Queen Letizia, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, and Her Royal Highness Infanta Sofía in the Gasparini Room of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Queen Letizia exercises the traditional privilège du blanc by wearing white in the Pope’s presence .(Photo credit: EFE/Ballesteros POOL)In the Hall of Columns, both the King and the Holy Father address the Diplomatic Corps. Pope Leo tells those gathered: “I come among you to confirm, encourage and inspire a renewed fidelity of believers to the Gospel, as well as a deeper reconciliation and cooperation between the various forces of this nation” Pope Leo arrives at the CEDIA 24-Hour Centre of Caritas Madrid, a project providing comprehensive care for people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. (Photo credit: J.J. Guillén/EFE)Pope Leo, accompanied by his personal secretary, Monsignor Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga, listens to music performed by Niña Pastori, one of Spain’s most famous flamenco singers. (Photo credit: J.J. Guillén/EFE) Pope Leo shares a private word with His Eminence Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid. (Photo credit: J.J. Guillén/EFE) The Holy Father speaks to service users of Cáritas Madrid’s 24-Hour Emergency and Comprehensive Care Centre. The centre specialises in assisting people experiencing homelessness. On average, 82 people visit the day centre each day. In 2025, the centre assisted 2,562 people. (Photo credit: J.J. Guillén/EFE) Young people gather for a prayer vigil in Lima Square. Described as a “festival of faith”, the vigil includes music, the Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration. (Photo credit: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío) Spanish bishops wait for the Pope to arrive in Lima square. (Photo credit: Marcos Nogales) Pope Leo is welcomed at the vigil by some 600,000 young people. A recent survey found that 45 per cent of Spaniards aged 15 to 29 identify as Catholic today, compared with 31.6 per cent in 2020. (Photo credit: Luismagan) Pope Leo is welcomed at the vigil by some 600,000 young people. A recent survey found that 45 per cent of Spaniards aged 15 to 29 identify as Catholic today, compared with 31.6 per cent in 2020. (Photo credit: Luismagan) The Holy Father leads the crowd in Eucharistic Adoration, bringing the first day of his apostolic journey to Spain to a close. On Sunday, he will celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in Cibeles Square in central Madrid. (Photo credit: J.J. Guillén/EFE)
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