Pope Leo XIV celebrated a huge open-air mass in Madrid on Sunday before an estimated crowd of 1,2 million people, marking one of the highlights of his week-long visit to Spain.
Hundreds of thousands of faithful thronged the area around the Plaza de Cibeles and the main thoroughfares of the Spanish capital. As the Pope arrived in his popemobile, the crowd waved flags and chanted welcoming messages, while some participants threw flower petals as he passed.
In his homily, the Pope focused his message on solidarity with the most vulnerable. He reminded them that God stands with "the poor, the oppressed, those who are alone and abandoned," calling on Catholics to translate their faith into concrete actions in favor of their neighbors.
Earlier in the day, the pontiff also addressed the people of Madrid during an official ceremony at City Hall. He expressed his hope that the Spanish capital would remain "a welcoming and inclusive city," guided by authentic human values.
This visit is the Pope's first to a European Union country outside of Italy since his election. During his stay, he is also scheduled to visit Barcelona, the Montserrat monastery, and the Canary Islands, where he will meet with migrants who arrived in Europe after crossing the Atlantic.
The journey is being closely followed from both a religious and political perspective. Since his election, Leo XIV has repeatedly called for peace, dialogue, and the defense of the most vulnerable populations – themes that occupy a central place in his public pronouncements.
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