Pope León XIV calls abuse a 'plague' and addresses Spain’s Congress on first day of Madrid visit
Pope León XIV used his first full day in Madrid to tell Spanish bishops that clergy abuse is a 'plague' requiring 'real changes of healing', and told lawmakers the Church had not always been 'up to the task' during the colonisation of the Americas.
Address to Congress
Making the first-ever papal speech in the Spanish Congress of Deputies, León XIV acknowledged that both society and the Church ‘were not always up to the task’ during the discovery and conquest of the Americas. He praised the School of Salamanca and figures such as Francisco de Vitoria for introducing the ‘irreducible value of every human being’ into moral and legal reasoning, but stopped short of a formal apology.
Abuse as a ‘plague’
Meeting Spanish bishops at the headquarters of the Conferencia Episcopal Española (CEE), the Pope called clerical abuse a ‘plague’ and insisted that ‘each wounded person must find sincere listening, welcome, protection and real changes of healing’. His words were his clearest public condemnation since becoming pontiff. Shortly afterwards, he held a private meeting with victims at the Apostolic Nunciature (16:15 local time). Some victims’ organisations criticised not being invited.
One of the most painful burdens is with those who have been wounded precisely by those who should have cared for them, including members of the clergy.
A lighter moment with AI
Before the bishops’ lunch, León XIV lightened the mood by recounting how he had asked an artificial intelligence tool what a pope should say to the Spanish episcopate. The AI replied that ‘Pope Francis would say…’. The pontiff corrected it: ‘I think there is another Pope.’ The system then recognised ‘Pope Leo’.
You have another algorithm – one that leads us to love people, to accompany them, to become servants of the word.
Real Madrid cashes in
A limited-edition Real Madrid shirt bearing ‘León’ and the number ‘XIV’ went on sale at the club’s official store for €195, shortly after the Pope mentioned on the flight from Rome that he is a Real Madrid supporter. Club president Florentino Pérez is expected to present the pontiff with a personalised shirt at this evening’s event in the Santiago Bernabéu.
- Mass with Spanish bishops at CEE headquarters
- Addresses the Congress of Deputies
- Arrives at CEE, greets bishops; speech on abuse 'plague'
- Lunch with bishops at Apostolic Nunciature
- Private meeting with abuse victims at Nunciature
- Prayer and homage to Virgin of Almudena at Cathedral
- Encounter with diocesan community at Santiago Bernabéu
The day’s rhythm
Before the Congress speech, the bishops celebrated Mass at 08:30. The Pope’s arrival at the CEE was delayed until 11:52 because of a seven-minute ovation in Parliament. After the morning sessions, he lunched with the prelates at the Nunciature around 13:00. The afternoon agenda includes a prayer at the Almudena Cathedral (18:00) and a large encounter with the diocesan community at the Bernabéu (19:00).
