Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Spain for Six-Day Visit

Pope Leo XIV commenced his six-day visit to Spain on Saturday, landing at Madrid's Barajas airport. He was greeted by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The pontiff's initial day in the capital included official ceremonies at the Royal Palace, where he was again received by the monarchs and government officials. In the afternoon, Pope Leo XIV visited the Cedia 24 center for the homeless, run by Cáritas, in the Carabanchel neighborhood. The evening concluded with a vigil for young people in Plaza de Lima, scheduled for around 8:30 PM.

The Pope is scheduled to remain in Madrid until Tuesday before traveling to Barcelona for a two-day stay, followed by visits to Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The papal itinerary is expected to cause disruptions to traffic in the cities he visits. El País is providing live updates on the Pope's journey, offering free coverage of the latest developments.

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The Pope is arriving in Spain for a six-day visit.

Prior to the Pope's arrival, a Vatican statement addressed the controversy surrounding whether he would meet with victims of pedophilia within the Church during his Spanish visit. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed on Friday evening that the pontiff would indeed meet with survivors of abuse, though details regarding the time and location were not specified, suggesting it would likely occur in Madrid at the nunciature where the Pope is staying.

This visit marks the first papal trip to Spain since 2011. Pope Leo XIV's packed schedule includes seven days, three autonomous communities, seven towns, and several large-scale events. In Madrid, he will deliver a speech to Congress in his capacity as head of state. In Barcelona, a key event will be the blessing of the newly inaugurated Jesus Christ tower at the Sagrada Familia. The final leg of his journey in the Canary Islands will focus on the reality of migrants arriving at Europe's doorstep, with meetings planned at Muelle de Arguineguín and La Laguna. The pontiff's agenda encompasses over 20 events in total.

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The Pontiff will meet with survivors of abuse.