Pope Leo XIV heads to Spain on Saturday for a visit focused on immigration and social justice at a politically turbulent time for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The visit starts with a welcome at the royal palace in Madrid from King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Later in the day, there will be a prayer vigil near Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where 400,000 people are expected. On Sunday, around a million people are set to attend a Mass in the city centre. During his seven-day trip, Leo will make a speech to the Spanish parliament and bless the new tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona – now the world's tallest church. He will also meet with some victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, the Vatican said. Some 200,000 minors are estimated to have suffered such abuse in Spain since 1940, according to a 2023 report from Spain's national ombudsman. Sanchez's government and the Catholic Church in Spain signed an agreement in March to compensate victims after years of reticence and opacity from the Church hierarchy. In the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday, Leo will meet migrants and the organisations helping them and will be joined by Sanchez to honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe. The Canaries – Spanish islands off the coast of west Africa – have become the main entry point for irregular migrants into Spain after long and dangerous trips from Africa.
Pope visits Spain to highlight migration amid political tensions
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Spain on Saturday for a seven-day trip focused on migration, including a visit to the Canary Islands where he will honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.…










