Key facts
- Pope Leo begins a week-long visit to Spain on June 6.
- The itinerary includes Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat Monastery, and the Canary Islands.
- Pope Leo will inaugurate a new tower at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.
- He will meet with migrants on the Canary Island of Tenerife.
- Pope Leo is scheduled to deliver over 20 speeches, including to the Spanish parliament.
- He will meet with Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia in Madrid.
Pope Leo is embarking on a week-long visit to Spain from June 6-12, his first to an EU country outside of Italy. The itinerary includes inaugurating a new tower at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica, meeting migrants who have reached Europe via dangerous sea routes, and visiting Madrid, Montserrat Monastery, and the Canary Islands. The pontiff, who has been critical of anti-immigration policies, will meet migrants and organizations assisting them on the Canary Island of Tenerife. He is also scheduled to deliver over 20 speeches, becoming the first pope to address the Spanish parliament, where he is likely to condemn ongoing wars and urge dialogue to overcome political and social polarization. In Madrid, Pope Leo will meet with King Felipe and Queen Letizia, address diplomats and civil leaders, meet young people, and visit a Catholic charity for the homeless. Spain's government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has implemented a mass amnesty program for immigrants, contrasting with the policies of the United States under President Donald Trump. The journey highlights the Pope's engagement with social issues, international conflicts, and the challenges of migration. The trip brings the pontiff to a traditional center of European Christianity, where the Catholic Church has a complex legacy and the Socialist-led government is in a political crisis.