Pope Leo arrived in Spain on June 6, 2026, launching a weeklong visit including stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands [1, 2]. This marks the first papal trip to Spain in 15 years and the first-ever visit by a pope to the Canary Islands [2].
On June 7, Pope Leo made history as the first pope to address Spain's parliament. He urged lawmakers toward moral responsibility and expressed concern about growing political polarization. He told the assembly, "Those who exercise public responsibility have a special obligation to safeguard language and help disarm rhetoric" [1, 2].
The pope criticized current global leadership for escalating conflicts that have triggered a serious worldwide crisis. He called for treating migrants and vulnerable people with dignity, stating, "In a world that is constantly influenced by a logic of self-interest and profit ... it is important to think and live according to a more authentic mentality" [1, 2].
On June 9, Pope Leo flew from Madrid to Barcelona to meet the leader of Catalonia and participate in a prayer vigil with young people [1]. The following day, June 10, he planned to visit Montserrat abbey and inaugurate the newest tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica, commemorating architect Antoni Gaudí on the 100th anniversary of his death [1].
The pope faced criticism from survivors of clergy sexual abuse for visiting Montserrat, a site linked to abuse scandals, and met with victims during his visit [1].
He rejected claims that the Iran conflict qualifies as a "just war" and spoke out against military rearmament as a solution to ongoing global instability [2].
Pope Leo is scheduled to conclude his trip on June 12 in the Canary Islands. There, he will meet about 1,000 migrants who crossed the Atlantic Ocean seeking refuge in Europe [1, 2].
