Pope Leo XIV to Visit Spain: Historic Address in Parliament

Preparations for Pope Leo XIV's June visit to Spain have entered a decisive phase, bringing with it a series of unprecedented events. The Holy See and the Spanish Congress of Deputies have confirmed that on June 8, the Pope will deliver an address before the combined houses of parliament. This will be the first time in history that the head of the Catholic Church speaks at the heart of Spanish parliamentary democracy. The visit to Madrid and Barcelona, however, is taking place in an atmosphere of political and social tensions. The Spanish Episcopal Conference had to publicly deny reports that the Holy Father's arrival was conditional on progress in the regularization of migrants or specific agreements regarding compensation for victims of sexual abuse in Church institutions. The renewal of relations between Madrid and the Vatican follows years of cool relations, harking back to the 1953 concordat, albeit in the entirely new, secular constitutional context of contemporary Spain. Simultaneously, Leo XIV has caused a stir in the tech world by announcing an absolute ban on writing sermons using ChatGPT. The Pope argues that "the brain must be used," and that pastoral care cannot be based on algorithms devoid of empathy and soul. This warning coincides with the planned visit to Barcelona, where the Pope will pay homage to Antoni Gaudí at his tomb and celebrate Mass at the Sagrada Familia basilica. The visit program also includes a trip to Andorra – the first papal visit to this principality in nearly five hundred years. Local authorities and hierarchs emphasize that the journey is intended to bring a message of unity in an era of strong political polarization, which also affects communities of believers. 488 lat — Andorra has waited for a visit from the head of the Church The logistics of the undertaking pose a huge challenge for security services and the defense ministry, which assure full readiness. However, in the shadow of the official ceremonies remains the issue of the compensation fund for abuse victims. Media suggest that the Vatican is exerting discreet pressure on local bishops to reach an agreement with the government more quickly on this painful matter. The Pope's stay in Spain will not be limited to major metropolises; Leo XIV also intends to visit poorer districts, like Rome's Quarticciolo before departure, to emphasize his commitment to the issues of the excluded on Europe's peripheries. „El cerebro debe ser usado. Cada homilía debe brotar del corazón, no de un procesador.” (The brain must be used. Every homily must spring from the heart, not from a processor.) — Leo XIV