Pope Leo urges unity as Spain visit begins

Pope Leo XIV opened a weeklong visit to Spain on Saturday with an appeal to reject polarisation and defend peace, launching the first papal trip to the country since 2011 amid large crowds, political tensions and a closely watched test of Catholic engagement with younger Spaniards.

Speaking at Madrid’s Royal Palace after being greeted by King Felipe VI, Leo thanked Spain for what he called its “faithful adherence to international law” and its “active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples.” Advocating for peace is vital “in an age seemingly shaken by terrible imbalances and conflicts,” he said.

The Chicago-born pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, also urged Spaniards to resist divisive public language. “I invite everyone to set aside the divisive and polarising narratives of your societal reality and history, so as to overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity,” he said.

Leo said technology has worsened social division by exaggerating prejudices and weakening critical thinking, according to Al Jazeera. His remarks came as Spain faces disputes over immigration and political corruption.

The pope pointed to Spain’s history as an example of coexistence among religions and cultures, saying it “suggests that a culture of encounter, not confrontation, is what fosters stability and prosperity.” He added: “In reality, the message of peace, which at present unfortunately strikes some as naïve and others as confrontational, is welcomed by those who do not shut themselves off in preconceived ideologies, but are rather open to the truth.”

Leo may find common ground with his hosts on foreign policy. Like the pope, Spain’s socialist government has been critical of the Iran war and has refused to provide military support, risking anger from the Trump administration, NBC News reported. Spain also has been outspoken in opposing Israel’s war in Gaza.

The visit has brought visible excitement in Madrid, where billboards, posters and subway cars have displayed the pope’s image and crowds have lined central streets. Leo, who began his church career as a missionary in Peru and speaks fluent Spanish, was expected to address young people later Saturday at a rally in Plaza de Lima.

Organizers hoped as many as half a million young people would attend. The pope joked with journalists on the flight from Rome that he faced unusual competition from Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who is also performing in Madrid this weekend.

“If they are confronted with the question: Do they want to see Bad Bunny or do they want to see the pope, I think many will see Bad Bunny,” Leo said. “But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something, you know.”

The youth rally comes as Catholic identity in Spain has fallen sharply. About 55% of Spaniards identify as Catholic, according to demographic survey data cited by NBC News, but fewer than 20% describe themselves as practicing Catholics. The church also continues to confront the legacy of clerical sexual abuse. A 2023 survey by Spain’s ombudsman’s office found that 1.13% of respondents said they suffered sexual abuse as minors in Catholic environments.

Leo is expected to meet abuse victims during the trip. “Abuses are an open wound,” he told reporters aboard the papal plane.

At the same time, Leo cited signs of renewed interest among younger people, with recent polls suggesting that the share of Spaniards ages 15 to 29 who identify as Catholic has risen in recent years. “I am very pleased by the reports I am receiving about the rise in numbers of conversions,” he said, describing young people who “realize there’s an emptiness, and a lack of a sense of meaning.”

The pope’s itinerary includes a Sunday meeting with figures from sports, culture and the arts, including Spanish actor Antonio Banderas. On Monday, he is set to become the first pope to address Spain’s parliament. Later in the week, he will travel to Barcelona to visit the Sagrada Familia and consecrate the newly finished Tower of Jesus Christ as the church nears completion after 144 years of construction.

Leo will end the trip in the Canary Islands, the destination point of a migration route the United Nations has described as one of the world’s deadliest. The Vatican said the stop is intended to send a message to Europe on migration at a time of heightened political tension over irregular arrivals.