The Holy See has officially confirmed Pope Leo XIV's June visit to Spain. The apostolic journey program includes Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. This announcement coincides with a tense election campaign in the Castile and León region, where the political battle centers on accusations of abuse against the mayor of Móstoles and disputes over funds to combat local unemployment.

Papal pilgrimage confirmed

Pope Leo XIV will visit Spain from June 6-12, 2026, staying in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Scandal in Móstoles

Mayor Manuel Bautista is refuting accusations of sexual harassment, which is affecting the image of the People's Party in the election campaign.

Employment funds

The authorities of Castile and León are launching a local employment plan worth 28 million euros for the unemployed.

The Vatican has announced the official schedule for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain, which will take place in the first half of June 2026. The Holy Father will visit the country's capital, the capital of Catalonia, and the Canary Islands archipelago. This visit has a symbolic and religious dimension, but in Spain, it is becoming a backdrop for intense political conflict. The Vatican delegation has already begun preparatory work to ensure security and logistics during this six-day pilgrimage. Relations between the Spanish government and the Holy See have been crucial since the 1953 concordat, and papal visits traditionally mobilize millions of faithful, indirectly influencing social and political sentiments in the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Castile. Meanwhile, Spanish public opinion is absorbed by the controversy surrounding Manuel Bautista, the mayor of Móstoles from the People's Party. The local official is refuting accusations of sexual harassment and mobbing, describing them as slander spread by the opposition. This situation is becoming a burden for the People's Party in the ongoing regional campaign in Castile and León. The local administration there has announced the mobilization of 28 million euros for employment programs, intended as a response to the needs of the local labor market. „Rechazo de manera categórica las acusaciones de acoso sexual y laboral, no he incurrido en conducta que pueda encajar en ese tipo delictivo” (I categorically reject the accusations of sexual and workplace harassment; I have not engaged in any conduct that could fit into that type of criminal offense.) — Manuel Bautista On the procedural front, the Junta Electoral has set strict financial reporting deadlines for election committees. Parties must submit complete accounting documentation between June 23 and July 18 of this year. At the same time, left-wing groups such as IU and Podemos have reached an agreement on the division of airtime on public media, which is intended to guarantee their reach to voters despite the growing polarization of the political scene.

Mentioned People

  • Leon XIV — The Pope, whose visit to Spain has been officially announced by the Vatican.
  • Manuel Bautista — Mayor of Móstoles accused of sexual harassment and mobbing.
  • Alfonso Fernández Mañueco — President of the Castile and León region, leader of the conservative election campaign.