León XIV gathers 12,000 in Madrid arena, urging culture and sport to serve the common good
Pope León XIV convened an unusual gathering of 12,000 people at Madrid's Movistar Arena on Sunday, bringing together artists, athletes, business leaders and union representatives to discuss how culture, education and sport can build a more humane society.
A papal welcome in a sports arena
Pope León XIV entered the Movistar Arena in Madrid around 18:00 on Sunday to a sustained ovation. Reports describe an applause lasting between seven and more than ten minutes as the pontiff walked through a central aisle, greeting attendees and blessing children. The venue, normally host to basketball games and rock concerts, was filled with 12,000 people for an event titled 'Tejer redes' (Weaving Networks). The official hymn of the apostolic visit, 'Alza la mirada', played twice to accompany the welcome.
An unusual cast of speakers
The gathering was designed as a dialogue between the Church and civil society. Among those who spoke were actor Antonio Banderas, who recalled discovering his faith through the Holy Week processions in Málaga; badminton player Carolina Marín, who argued for a vision of sport less obsessed with victory at any cost; and Paralympic swimmer Teresa Perales. The business and labour world was represented by the president of the CEOE employers' federation, Antonio Garamendi, and the general secretaries of the CCOO and UGT unions, Unai Sordo and Pepe Álvarez. Dancer Sara Baras and singer Rozalén also performed.
I am here today, Holy Father, confessing to having been a victim of God's spell.
A call to weave new networks
In his address, León XIV invited those present to be "new threads to weave new networks that harmonise all areas of life, to frame a renewed society." He warned against reducing sport to spectacle or mere business, and urged that art should not be aimed only at elites. The Pope also called for careful use of language, both spoken and in digital environments, saying that every expression can "wound or heal."
We run the risk of being experts in means and efficient at producing, but uncertain about the why, the what for, with whom and for whom we produce.
A bridge to Spanish culture
The pontiff praised Spain as a "beautiful country" where it is impossible not to admire the trace of creativity running through its history. He cited the mystical poetry of Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint John of the Cross, the plays of Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca, and the "serene prose of Saint Thomas Aquinas." The event was presented by journalists Carlos Franganillo and Lara Síscar, giving it the feel of a televised gala.
Government and Church presence
Several members of the Spanish government attended, including First Vice-President and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, Second Vice-President and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, Third Vice-President Sara Aagesen, and Education Minister Milagros Tolón. The event was seen as a significant gesture by the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal José Cobo, who was a key figure under Pope Francis and sought to demonstrate the Church's ability to convene influential figures, including non-believers.
The Church, aware of both its successes and its errors throughout history, longs to remain in dialogue with the contemporary world.
