Pope Leo XIV. opens Spain visit with call to reject 'sterile simplifications' and uphold international law

A royal welcome and a call for complexity

Pope Leo XIV. was greeted at Madrid's Barajas airport by King Felipe VI. and Queen Letizia before being driven through streets lined with onlookers to the Royal Palace. There, in a reception for politicians, diplomats, and civil society representatives, he thanked Spain for its 'faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism,' which he said was reflected in an 'active commitment to peace and solidarity.' The 70-year-old pontiff, who has led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics since May of last year, lamented that 'the message of peace in these times unfortunately sounds naive to some and provocative to others.'

We must move from fruitless simplifications to a fruitful recognition of their complexity.

He framed this as a special vocation for Europe, arguing that societies must 'escape those identitarian approaches that seem to explain everything but populate the world with ghosts and enemies.' The pope also invoked Spain's history of coexistence between Christians, Muslims, and Jews on the Iberian Peninsula, stating that 'it is not the culture of confrontation, but that of encounter that creates stability and prosperity.'

A veiled rebuke to Trump

Without naming him directly, the pope's remarks were widely interpreted as a critique of Donald Trump. The US president has clashed repeatedly with Leo XIV. over foreign policy, particularly the Iran conflict. In his Easter message, the pope said Christians could not stand with those who 'drop bombs today.' Trump responded by calling the pontiff 'weak' and 'terrible in foreign policy,' and posted an image of himself depicted as Jesus.

The pope is weak and terrible in foreign policy.

The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has also drawn Trump's ire. Sánchez barred the US military from using Spanish bases for strikes on Iran and has repeatedly described Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide.' The alignment between the Vatican and Madrid on these issues made the visit a symbolic meeting of two of Trump's most prominent critics.

The Ukraine war and the wounds of abuse

On the flight to Madrid, the pope renewed his call for an end to the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. 'We must really push for the violence to end,' he told reporters aboard the papal plane, according to the Italian news agency Ansa. 'The situation is getting worse and worse. Four and a half years have passed. A solution must be found.'

The situation is getting worse and worse. Four and a half years have passed. A solution must be found.

The visit also addresses the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. King Felipe VI. praised the pope's 'clarity and determination' on the issue, calling it essential 'for the process of healing and reparation.' The Vatican confirmed that Leo XIV. will meet with abuse victims during the trip, a demand long made by victims' groups. The pope himself described the scandals as a 'still-open wound' of the Church. In March, the Spanish government and the Church reached an agreement to compensate victims, following a commission report that estimated more than 200,000 victims since 1940.

A pilgrimage across Spain

Under the motto 'Lift up your gaze,' the pope's itinerary extends beyond Madrid to Barcelona and the Canary Islands. On Wednesday, the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death, he will bless the Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Família basilica. He is also scheduled to meet with African migrants on the Canary Islands, a gesture seen as a statement on the refugee question. In Madrid, a Saturday evening prayer vigil with young people on the Plaza de Lima is expected to draw more than 100,000 participants. Authorities have deployed over 14,000 police officers for security.

For the American-born pope, this is his first visit to a major European country outside Italy, following only a half-day stop in Monaco. His fluent Spanish, honed during years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, has earned him considerable sympathy in the predominantly Catholic country.