Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday for a week-long state visit, addressing the issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church ahead of scheduled meetings with survivors.
The 70-year-old pontiff was received at Madrid airport by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, marking the first papal visit to the country since 2010.
Speaking to reporters on the papal plane, the pope acknowledged that the crisis of clergy abuse remains unresolved, following a 2023 Spanish ombudsman report estimating that roughly 200,000 minors had been abused since 1940.
The visit comes shortly after the Spanish government and the Catholic Church signed a historic agreement to compensate victims following decades of institutional secrecy.
Following a formal reception at Madrid’s royal palace, the pope attended a prayer vigil near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, drawing an estimated 400,000 young people.
Pope Leo XIV expressed optimism regarding a resurgence of religious interest among the youth.
“They realize there’s an emptiness, and a lack of a sense of meaning, and perhaps my visiting is helping to awaken even further something,” he said.
The pontiff’s visit coincided with a concert series by Puerto Rican music artist Bad Bunny, highlighting a cultural contrast that the pope directly acknowledged to the press.
“I think many will see Bad Bunny. But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something.”