Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV urged global leaders to stop dividing electorates with "sterile simplifications".
- The Pope emphasized listening to cries for peace.
- He met with migrants and hundreds of thousands of young people in Spain.
- The Pope stressed human dignity and complex appreciation over polarization.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday, June 6, marking the first papal visit in fifteen years. Upon his arrival in Madrid, he was greeted by more than 130,000 people. During his initial address, the pontiff cautioned against the adoption of "ready-made ideologies" and issued a call for national reconciliation. Later, over a million people gathered near Madrid's Cibeles Square for an outdoor Mass led by Pope Leo, where he stated that God identifies with the poor and forsaken. The pontiff is set to deliver a mass in the centre of Madrid before moving elsewhere in Spain to Barcelona and the Canary Islands. Pope Leo XIV is also expected to deliver an unprecedented address to the Spanish parliament, where immigration is expected to take centre stage. The Pope's week-long visit to Spain also includes meetings with migrants and young people, and aims to promote respect for all human beings. During his tour, Pope Leo urged global leaders to stop dividing electorates with "sterile simplifications" and listen to cries for peace. He met migrants and hundreds of thousands of young people, emphasizing human dignity and the value of complex appreciation over polarization.