Pope Urges Youth to Be 'Light of the World' in Madrid Address

During his week-long visit to Spain, Pope Leo XIV addressed hundreds of thousands of young people in Madrid, urging them to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world." Speaking at a youth vigil on the Plaza de Lima, the pontiff called on the attendees to act as a "spark of a new humanity" in the face of indifference, war, and falsehoods.

Spanish authorities estimated the crowd at around 500,000, with organizers reporting up to 600,000 participants. The Pope's message resonated with the large gathering, emphasizing the importance of peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding in contemporary times. He acknowledged that in the current climate, the message of peace might sound naive to some and provocative to others.

In a separate meeting with state representatives, civil society members, and foreign diplomats, Pope Leo XIV lamented the increasing tendency to gain popularity by fueling polarization. He subtly alluded to criticism he has faced, particularly from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously urged the Pope to stay out of politics after the pontiff's critiques of the Iran war. The Pope stressed the need to move away from "fruitless simplifications" towards a "fruitful recognition of complexity."

The Pope also thanked Spain for its "fidelity to international law and multilateralism," noting that the country's left-leaning government had also drawn criticism from Trump. He encouraged avoiding "words that demean or pit against each other," advocating instead for a more constructive and unifying discourse. The Vatican also announced that the Pope would meet with victims of sexual abuse within Catholic institutions, a meeting that victim advocacy groups had called for. Pope Leo XIV described the abuse scandals as an "open wound" for the Church.