Madrid

On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass before 1.2 million faithful in Madrid and delivered a homily centred on the Eucharist, charity and Spain’s Catholic heritage. Read the full text On the second day of his apostolic visit to Spain, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, delivered an impassioned homily before 1.2 million faithful gathered in the centre of the nation’s capital. Speaking on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope said that on this day Catholics celebrate that Jesus “does not remain enclosed within the church, but comes out to meet us”. He also exhorted Spain’s Catholics not to let their faith “become a museum”, but to be recognised as “a school that teaches us to kneel before God and before our neighbour, because no one can kneel before the Lord and despise a brother or sister”. Spain’s history is one of deep Catholic devotion, but it has also been marked by periods of anti-clerical socialism, leading many to speak of “two Spains”. Under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the country has been subject to particularly aggressive secular and anti-Catholic legislation, notably laws limiting religious education in Catholic schools and introducing assisted suicide. Although the Holy Father has remained clear of political debate, his call for Spain to return to its Catholic roots struck a notably different tone from Sánchez’s secularism, which seeks to remove the Church’s presence in public life. The Holy Father concluded by praying for those present, imploring Jesus that “a full and abundant life may spring forth for you, for your families and for your country”. The full text is reproduced below: Dear priests, religious brothers and sisters, Your Majesties, brothers and sisters, With my heart filled with joy at the beginning of this journey to Spain, I preside over this celebration on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. We are gathered around the Eucharist, the gift of Christ’s living presence among us. He who wished to offer us his life in order to bring us into communion with the Father and make us his children is here as the living bread come down from heaven, who nourishes us with the very life of God, with a love stronger than death. This remembrance of the Lord present in the Eucharistic bread is at the heart of your faith and of the history of your people. Here in Madrid, but also in so many other places throughout Spain, Corpus Christi is not merely another feast in the calendar, but a return to the roots of faith in order to renew love and fidelity to God. The solemn processions of this day have embodied for centuries the piety, the art, the music, the architecture and the life of the Spanish people, and even today they express and manifest the spiritual sentiment of this country, also through the beauty and elegance of the floral carpets, of the altars in the streets, the care devoted to the monstrances and displays, the hymns and the ornaments. This is not a matter of an external display, a folkloric survival, or a simple aesthetic adornment. Rather, it is faith in the presence of the Risen Lord, who is alive and continues to pass among us, who becomes bread for our hunger for life and visits the corners of our hearts and of our history, even the darkest ones. Thus, if in the Eucharistic celebration Christ gives himself as food, the procession proclaims that he does not remain enclosed within the church, but comes out to meet us. Jesus walks through the streets, crosses the squares, visits our neighbourhoods, and dwells in the places of our daily life. He is the God who is near and who walks with his people, the Lord of history, comfort for the weak, light for families, hope for the sick, peace for those who suffer. The Christ who passes through the streets in the monstrance is the same Christ who identifies himself with the poor, the downcast, those who are alone and abandoned. It is no coincidence that here in Spain the Church has for many years linked the Solemnity of Corpus Christi with the Day of Charity. It is not simply a matter of carrying the monstrance through the streets, but of allowing ourselves to be drawn out of selfishness, indifference, and a comfortable and private faith, in order to respond to his invitation to conversion, to change our way of seeing, and to open ourselves to his presence, a presence that transforms us and makes us builders of a new world. For this reason, the historical memory of the Corpus Christi processions cannot be imprisoned by nostalgic remembrance. Rather, it becomes an invitation for today, for our personal lives, for our relationships, for society, and for the building of the future. It is in this light that we must understand the invitation to remember that we heard in the first reading. “Remember the whole journey that the Lord your God made you travel during these forty years in the desert.” “Remember how, when you were hungry, he fed you with manna.” It is a matter of remembering precisely so as not to forget who the Lord is, so as not to fall into the temptation of trusting in other idols and feeding ourselves on a bread that does not satisfy. Therefore, here is a task entrusted to the Spain of today and tomorrow: that the religious faith which has animated this country for centuries may not become a museum of the past to be visited, but rather a school of faith from which people may still drink today. A school that teaches us to kneel before God and before our neighbour, because no one can kneel before the Lord and despise a brother or sister. A school that teaches us gratitude, the love that becomes a gift so that it may circulate among us and break the chains of every form of selfishness. A school in which we learn that God is truly present, and that we too are called to be present amid the situations and challenges of society, not to flee from them, but to commit ourselves personally to the building of the common good. Brothers and sisters, I wish to recall here Saint Manuel González, the bishop of the abandoned tabernacles. His life reminds us that the Eucharist cannot be honoured only during great celebrations or in an occasional way, but also through the silent fidelity of those who accompany the Lord with a humble and discreet friendship nourished day by day. I would also like to recall the poetic verses of Saint John of the Cross: “I know well the fountain that flows and runs, though it is night.” In the convent prison of Toledo, where he was imprisoned under extremely harsh conditions, precisely around Corpus Christi in the year 1578, he recognised, from within the darkness of that prison, the hidden presence of the Lord, from whom springs a light that never fails and a life that is never exhausted. Jesus in the Eucharist is that eternal fountain which remains hidden, a fountain that flows and quenches thirst, yet without dazzling, without imposing itself through outward power, without presenting itself in a spectacular manner. Let us return to him with sincere love. Let us open ourselves to an encounter with him. Let us allow him to refresh the dryness of our hearts so that we may then go out onto the roads of life and history carrying among people this stream of fresh water, a stream of love, peace, justice and joy. Let us drink once more from this Eucharistic fountain, which does not enclose us within a private devotion, but sends us out to our brothers and sisters, to families, to the poor, to those who suffer, to those who have lost hope. The grace of the Eucharist transforms us, but it also makes us protagonists in the transformation of history and signs of hope for those whom we encounter. May the Lord Jesus, present in the Eucharist, make you bread broken, given and offered, so that a full and abundant life may spring forth for you, for your families and for your country. Image credit: EUROPA PRESS – JESÚS HELLÍN

More than 30,000 carnations transformed the centre of Madrid as Pope Leo XIV led a Corpus Christi procession attended by an estimated 1.2 million people 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

The Holy Father arrived in Madrid, met the Spanish Royal Family, called for unity and dialogue, visited a Catholic centre serving the homeless, and concluded the day with a youth prayer vigil attended by hundreds of thousands of people Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on Saturday for the first day of his apostolic journey to Spain, a visit that will focus on evangelisation, youth, social outreach and the enduring Christian identity of one of Europe’s most historic Catholic nations. The papal aircraft departed Rome at 8am bound for Madrid, with the Holy Father using the flight to speak with journalists travelling with him. One exchange quickly generated attention beyond the religious press when Elise Ann Allen of Crux asked whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona. The Pope responded: “That’s easy… the Pope is for all teams, but Prevost is Real Madrid,” prompting an immediate reaction on social media. The Pope also reflected on signs of renewed religious interest among younger generations when questioned by CNN’s Christopher Lamb. Noting that Puerto Rican music personality Bad Bunny was performing in Madrid on the same evening, Pope Leo acknowledged the competing attractions facing young people in modern society. “If they are confronted with the question: do they want to see Bad Bunny or do they want to see the Pope, I think many will see Bad Bunny,” His Holiness said. Yet the Pope suggested that the growing number of young people exploring Christianity pointed to a deeper spiritual search. Speaking about a generation that has often grown up without a strong religious foundation, he said many were beginning to recognise “an emptiness” and “a lack of a sense of meaning”, adding that his visit might help awaken questions they were still struggling to define. The Holy Father touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 10.30am, where he was welcomed by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, His Eminence Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Ahead of the arrival, Sánchez had issued a public message welcoming the pontiff to Spain, describing the country as “diverse” and “open” and expressing the hope that the papal visit would help strengthen “dialogue, understanding and hope”. A Vatican press document distributed to journalists covering the trip, a so-called working booklet prepared by the Dicastery for Communication, included a favourable biographical profile of Socialist Prime Minister Sánchez, crediting him with having “revitalised economic growth and social rights in Spain”. Sánchez’s government has supported abortion and euthanasia legislation, and the working document made no mention of either issue. The Holy See Press Office noted that the publication was intended as a journalistic working tool rather than an official Vatican text. From the airport, Pope Leo travelled to Madrid’s Royal Palace for the formal welcome ceremony in the Plaza de la Armería. Military honours were rendered and the national anthems of Spain and Vatican City State were performed before the pontiff proceeded to a private audience with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. He also met Princess Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, continuing a tradition of cordial relations between the Spanish Crown and the Holy See that stretches back centuries. The first major speech of the journey followed shortly afterwards during a gathering with political authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps. Addressing those assembled in the Royal Palace, Pope Leo said he had come to Spain “to affirm, encourage and instil a renewed fidelity to the Gospel among believers, as well as a deeper reconciliation and collaboration among the various elements of this nation”. While praising Spain’s commitment to international cooperation, His Holiness also encouraged efforts to strengthen social cohesion within the country. He thanked Spain for its “faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism”, which he said was demonstrated through “an active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples”. The Pope’s remarks repeatedly returned to the themes of dialogue, unity and the common good. His Holiness called on Spaniards “to cultivate dialogue and civic friendship within your own country” and urged political and civic leaders to consider the perspectives of the poor and the young when shaping the future. Referring to tensions that have periodically emerged over questions of regional autonomy and national identity, the Pope encouraged the nation “to harmonise the claims for autonomy and unity”, while also expressing support for European cooperation as a contribution to the wider human family. Pope Leo also used the address to place his visit within the broader context of Spain’s Christian history. Describing the country as “a great country that, for nearly two millennia, has welcomed the Gospel”, he recalled the ancient tradition linking the evangelisation of the Iberian Peninsula to St James the Greater. The reference carried particular significance in a nation whose spiritual heritage remains closely connected to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela, one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage destinations. The Pope noted that the tradition expressed the Spanish Church’s awareness of its continuity with the apostolic mission entrusted to the first disciples of Christ. After the official ceremonies and meetings in the centre of Madrid, the focus of the papal visit shifted towards the Church’s charitable mission. In the early evening, the Holy Father travelled to the CEDIA 24 Horas centre operated by Cáritas Madrid, a facility dedicated to serving people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. The centre provides round-the-clock assistance and supported more than 2,500 people during the previous year while receiving dozens of visitors every day. Before arriving at CEDIA, Pope Leo spent time with a group of around 40 people affected by disability and illness. He was then welcomed at the centre by Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid, together with staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of the project. During the visit, he listened to testimonies from Niurka, a woman originally from Cuba, Khadri, a migrant from Senegal, and Alicia, a volunteer representing the many people involved in the Church’s charitable outreach. Each offered a personal account of hardship, support and renewal before presenting symbolic gifts to the Pope. Responding to the testimonies, Pope Leo spoke warmly of the welcome he had received since arriving in Spain. Referring to a phrase used by Cardinal Cobo, he noted that “Anyone who is in Madrid is from Madrid” before adding: “And so I, too, am here among you as another Madrilenian.” Thanking those present for making him feel part of “a large and wonderful family”, he described the centre as a concrete example of Christian fraternity in action. “In this home, no one remains alone,” he said. “Here, each person’s joy and sorrow are the joy and sorrow of all.” The Pope said the work carried out at CEDIA reflected Christ’s own identification with the poor, vulnerable and forgotten. Referring to a song performed during the gathering, he highlighted the words, “In every dream I sought you, and none was in vain”, suggesting that they captured both the experiences shared during the visit and the spirit that sustained the centre’s daily mission of service. The final event of the Pope’s first day in Spain drew vast crowds to Madrid’s Plaza de Lima, where hundreds of thousands of young people gathered for an evening prayer vigil described by organisers as a festival of faith. Following introductory remarks by Cardinal Cobo on the challenges facing young people in contemporary society, the Pope answered a series of questions posed by youth representatives. Asked about the figures who had most influenced his faith, he cited St John Chrysostom, St Thomas of Villanova and St Turibius of Mogrovejo, praising their commitment to truth, charity and justice. He also reflected on his years as a missionary in Peru, recalling how encounters with communities facing hardship had deepened both his faith and his understanding of the Gospel. Throughout the encounter, Pope Leo encouraged young Catholics to cultivate prayer, silence and discernment in a noisy and distracted age. He urged them to seek God’s voice with sincerity, remain committed to truth and recognise that both marriage and religious life represent authentic Christian vocations. The vigil concluded with Eucharistic adoration, bringing to an end a demanding opening day that saw Pope Leo move from the ceremonial grandeur of state occasions to encounters with the poor, the sick and the young. (Photo credit: : J.J. Guillén/EFE)

The Vatican has released the full itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain from June 6 to June 12. The visit will include stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife The Holy See Press Office has released the itinerary for the anticipated apostolic journey of Pope Leo XIV to Spain, scheduled to take place from June 6 to June 12. According to the programme, the Pope will depart Rome on the morning of June 6 and arrive in Madrid at 10.30 local time, where he will be received at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport before attending a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace. He will then make a “courtesy visit to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain” and take part in a “meeting with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps”, during which he is due to deliver an address. In the evening, he is scheduled to visit the operators and those assisted by the social project “CEDIA 24 hours” before presiding at a “prayer vigil with young people in Plaza de Lima”. On June 7, the Pope will celebrate Mass in Plaza de Cibeles, followed by a Corpus Christi procession. Later that afternoon, he will meet privately with members of the Order of Saint Augustine at the Apostolic Nunciature. The day will continue with a gathering titled “Building Networks with the World of Culture, Art, Economy and Sport” at the Movistar Arena, where he is expected to speak, before concluding with a private dinner at the residence of the cardinal archbishop of Madrid. The programme for June 8 centres on meetings with political and ecclesial authorities. The Pope will meet the Prime Minister at the Apostolic Nunciature before travelling to the Congress of Deputies for a “meeting with members of the Spanish Parliament”, at which he will give an address. He will then meet the bishops of Spain at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference. In the evening, he will take part in a “prayer and homage to the Virgin of Almudena in the Cathedral of Santa María de la Almudena”, before attending a “meeting with the diocesan community at Real Madrid FC’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium”. On June 9, the Pope will meet the volunteers who have made the trip possible at IFEMA Madrid before departing for Barcelona. Upon arrival, he will pray the midday office at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia and later preside at a prayer vigil at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. The following day includes a visit to the “Brians 1” penitentiary centre, which, when combined with “Brians 2” on the same site, is the largest prison in Catalonia, where he will greet inmates and staff. He will then travel to Montserrat for the “prayer of the Holy Rosary at the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat”, an abbey which saw many of its monks murdered in the Spanish Civil War and subsequently became a symbol of Catalan nationalism. The Holy Father will have a meal with the 70 or so Benedictine monks of the abbey, who have recently celebrated 1,000 years of the monastery. Returning to Barcelona, he will meet representatives of diocesan charity and assistance organisations before celebrating Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Family, which will include the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ. On June 11, the Pope will travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he will meet organisations involved in receiving migrants at the port of Arguineguín. The Canary Islands are one of the main entry points for migrants trying to enter the EU, as the Spanish archipelago sits just off the coast of northwestern Africa and is considerably easier to access for African migrants than other parts of Europe. Later on the 11th day, the Pope will address bishops, priests, deacons, Religious and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Saint Anne before celebrating Mass at the Gran Canaria Stadium. The final day of the visit, June 12, will see the Pope travel to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He is scheduled to meet migrants at the “Las Raíces” centre and take part in a gathering focused on “the realities of migrant integration in the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna”. The visit will conclude with Mass in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, followed by a farewell ceremony and departure for Rome in the afternoon, with arrival at Fiumicino expected at 20.10 local time. The six-day visit is the first papal trip to the country in almost a decade and a half. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI visited in 2011 as part of the country’s World Youth Day celebrations. However, Pope Francis did not travel to Spain during his 13-year pontificate, creating a general sense that the Catholic country is overdue a papal presence. The Spanish Episcopal Conference is organising the visit, with financing partially sourced from private donations and a 10,000-person volunteer team coordinated by the Archdiocese of Madrid.