Pope leads Mass for over 1.2 million in Madrid

Madrid's central Cibeles Square and surrounding streets became a focal point for faith as over 1.2 million people gathered for a Mass and Corpus Christi procession led by Pope Leo XIV. The significant turnout highlights the enduring, though diminished, Catholic presence in Spain.

The pontiff's visit included a formal reception by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who also joined the faithful for the service held at the iconic Plaza de Cibeles, home to the Madrid City Hall. This royal participation underscores the historical ties between the Spanish monarchy and the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV's itinerary extends beyond Madrid, with planned stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands. This week-long journey comes at a time when Spain, traditionally a bastion of Catholicism, has seen a notable decline in religious adherence. Recent surveys indicate that while 53 percent of Spaniards identify as Catholic, this figure represents a drop of approximately 20 percentage points from 15 years ago, with only 16 percent practicing regularly.

Despite the secularization trend, the Catholic Church in Spain harbors hopes that the Pope's visit will reinvigorate faith among the populace and encourage a return to religious practice.