Pope Léon XIV begins Spain visit: 'End discourses that divide', says church abuse is 'open wound'

Arrival and royal welcome

Léon XIV touched down at Madrid‐Barajas airport on the morning of 6 June, greeted by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The delegation proceeded to the Royal Palace for an official welcome ceremony, where the pope delivered his first public address of the trip. It is the first papal visit to Spain in 14 years, landing in a country where religious practice is in steep decline.

Condemning 'discourses that divide'

Speaking from the palace, the pope urged Spaniards to reject "discourses that divide and polarise" society and to abandon "sterile simplifications." He called on the nation to flee "identity‐based approaches that populate the world with ghosts and enemies," framing unity as a prerequisite for giving an example to Europe. The speech was delivered before far‐right leader Santiago Abascal, who rose and applauded at its conclusion.

The message of peace unfortunately resonates as naive for some and provocative for others.

The pontiff thanked Spain for its "faithful attachment to international law and multilateralism" and its "constant commitment to peace." He linked that peace message to the need for dialogue, noting it should echo among "those who do not lock themselves into ready‐made ideologies."

The 'open wound' of sexual abuse

Aboard the papal flight, Léon XIV acknowledged that sexual abuse within the Church remains "a still‐open wound." He is scheduled to meet victims during the visit. King Felipe VI publicly praised the pope's "clarity and firmness," calling them essential for "healing and reparation" for victims, the faithful, the Church and society at large.

Your clarity and firmness, which I also wish to salute, are essential in the process of healing and reparation of the damage inflicted: they are so for the victims, for the believers, for the Church and for society in general.

A 2023 report by the Spanish Ombudsman estimated that more than 200,000 minors may have been sexually abused by Catholic clergy since 1940. In late March 2026, the Sánchez government and the Spanish Church signed an agreement to compensate victims, breaking years of institutional opacity.

Migration, peace, and social justice

The seven‐day visit is centred on migration, a deeply divisive issue in Spanish politics. The pope will travel to the Canary Islands later in the week to meet migrants and the organisations assisting them. On Monday he is set to deliver an unprecedented address to the Spanish Parliament, with social justice expected to be a major theme.

Prime Minister Sánchez has positioned himself as a European champion of opposition to the war in Iran, straining relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Léon XIV, himself an American and a frequent Trump critic for his anti‐war stance, reiterated his concern over Ukraine and called once again for a solution.

A lighter note: competing with Bad Bunny

Asked on the plane about young people's interest in the Church, the pope smiled and quipped, "If you ask them whether they want to see Bad Bunny or the Pope, I think many will choose Bad Bunny. But I think there will be a few here to see the Pope. And that means something, you know." His remark referred to the Puerto Rican superstar, currently midway through a ten‐concert run in Madrid.

What comes next

The public highlights of the visit are packed into the coming days.

On Sunday a huge open‐air mass is planned at Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles, where organisers expect one million worshippers. Monday's parliamentary address — the first ever by a pontiff to the Spanish legislature — will dominate the political segment of the tour. Later in the week the pope will visit the Canaries, meet abuse survivors, and bless the new tower of Barcelona's Sagrada Família, whose construction began at the end of the 19th century.