Pope Leo XIV conducted a mass before more than 1.2 million Christians and believers gathered in Madrid, the capital of Spain, stating that God stands alongside the poor and oppressed.
On Sunday, 7 Jun 2026 GMT+7, over 1.2 million people gathered along the streets of Madrid while Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air mass in the Spanish capital. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also attended the morning mass.
Pope Leo was on the second day of his visit to Spain, greeting crowds from his moving papal vehicle through Madrid. Devotees waved Spanish and Vatican flags and shouted "Long live the Pope" while some scattered flower petals to welcome him upon arrival at Plaza de Cibeles.
During his sermon, Pope Leo urged the assembled faithful to express their faith by helping others, stating that God "knows and reaches out to the poor, the oppressed, the persecuted, the lonely, and the abandoned."
He further said that religion should not be remembered as "a museum of the past merely for visiting, but as a school of faith applicable to modern life."
Spanish authorities implemented strict security measures for the mass and the subsequent papal procession through central Madrid.
Pope Leo XIV officially began his seven-day visit to Spain the previous Saturday, greeted by large crowds. During a welcoming banquet at the Royal Palace, he praised the Spanish government for its stance against global conflicts and support for migrants.
Late on Saturday, the Pope participated in a prayer service with about 500,000 Christians, mostly youth, near the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium of Real Madrid football club. The ceremony continued into the night.
"Amidst the emptiness of neglect and surrender, before facing the violence of war and deception, you must be the spark to start a new era of humanity," he told the gathered faithful.
This message aligned with his remarks at the Royal Palace banquet, where he praised Spain's commitment to peace and "faithfulness to international law."
Previously, Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump over U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran and the Gaza Strip, insisting Spain would not join any war. Trump strongly criticized him for this stance.
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Source:bbc