More than 1.2 million people thronged the streets of central Madrid on Sunday in the hope of catching a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV, according to figures provided by the Vatican and local organizers.
The head of the Catholic Church traveled in the "popemobile" down the Spanish capital's main thoroughfare, the Paseo de la Castellana, to the central Plaza de Cibeles — the square best known as the rallying point for football supporters celebrating Real Madrid's successes.
People tossed flower petals, waved flags and shouted "Long live the Pope!" as the 70-year-old American arrived in the square, where he presided over an open-air mass.
In his sermon, the pontiff told the crowds: "This is not an exhibition, a remnant of folklore or a simple display of beauty. It is a profession of faith in the presence of the risen Lord, who is alive and continues to walk among us."
He said that God "identifies with the poor, the downtrodden, those who alone and forsaken" and called on Spanish Catholics to set an example.
