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Pope Leon XIV seeks new ties with old Spain
🇸🇮 Slovenia /Culture & Society

Pope Leon XIV seeks new ties with old Spain

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Pope Francis's successor, Pope Leon XIV, is undertaking his second world tour, with a focus on strengthening ties with Spain.
  • The visit aims to re-engage with Spain, a nation historically significant for spreading Christianity but now experiencing declining church attendance.
  • This trip highlights the Catholic Church's efforts to revitalize its presence in Spain and connect with its historical roots.

Fifteen years have passed since the last papal visit to Spain, a country that, along with the Church, once spearheaded global exploration and colonization. Pope Leon XIV is now seeking to forge new connections with this nation, which played a pivotal role in disseminating Christianity worldwide.

Historically, Spain was instrumental in spreading Christianity across the globe. However, current statistics reveal a significant decline in religious practice, with only 15 percent of Spaniards attending mass. This presents a challenge for the Catholic Church as it seeks to re-establish its influence.

Previous pontiffs, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, made multiple visits to Spain. Pope Francis, who hailed from Latin America, never visited Spain during his papacy, nor did he visit his home country of Argentina. Pope Leon XIV's current trip to Spain marks his second international tour, following a recent visit to Africa, underscoring the Vatican's strategic focus on diverse regions.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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