Madrid: Pope Leo XIV has begun his first official visit to Spain by commending the country’s commitment to peace, international cooperation, and support for migrants. Speaking at a reception hosted by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace in Madrid, the pontiff praised Spain’s active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples.
The Pope also highlighted Spain’s adherence to international law and its commitment to multilateral cooperation, remarks widely seen as an endorsement of the foreign policy positions taken by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez has recently disagreed with Donald Trump over tensions involving Iran and has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
During his seven-day visit, Pope Leo is expected to focus on some of the most pressing social and humanitarian issues facing Spain. The pontiff will meet survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and hold discussions with organisations working to support migrants and refugees.
Addressing journalists aboard his flight to Spain, Pope Leo described clerical sexual abuse as an open wound for the Church. His visit comes months after the Spanish government and the Catholic Church reached an agreement to compensate abuse victims following years of criticism over the handling of allegations.
A 2023 report by Spain’s ombudsman estimated that around 440,000 people may have suffered sexual abuse involving clergy members or individuals connected to the Church, although Church authorities have disputed the findings.
King Felipe praised the Pope’s firm stance on the issue, describing it as essential to the healing and reparation process for victims. Migration is expected to be another key theme of the visit. In the Canary Islands, Pope Leo will join Sánchez in honouring thousands of migrants who have died attempting to reach Europe through one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. Nearly 47,000 migrants arrived in the islands in 2024, while aid groups estimate that more than 9,000 people lost their lives during the journey.
Spain’s immigration policies have differed markedly from those adopted by many European nations. The government is moving forward with plans to regularise the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants, enabling them to participate in the workforce and society formally.
The Pope also delivered a broader message on global peace, acknowledging that calls for dialogue are often viewed as either naïve or confrontational. The Pope argued that peace efforts should instead be embraced by those willing to move beyond ideological divisions.
In a historic first, Pope Leo is also scheduled to address the Spanish Parliament during his visit. On a lighter note, when asked by reporters whether he preferred football giants FC Barcelona or Real Madrid CF, the Chicago-born pontiff diplomatically said that the Pope supports all teams. However, with a smile, he added that ‘Prevost,’ referring to his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost, supports Real Madrid.
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