Pope Leo XIV’s Spain Visit to Highlight Peace, Migration, Youth and Church’s Role in Society

Madrid, June 04, 2026: Pope Leo XIV’s fourth international Apostolic Journey will take him to Spain from June 6 to 12, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, focusing on peace, disarmament, migration, youth, culture, and the Church’s contribution to modern society.

Presenting the programme to journalists, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said expectations are high for the Pope’s visit to “a land of ancient Christian tradition.” The journey will cover nearly 2,500 kilometres and is expected to draw around half a million faithful across various events.

During his visit, Pope Leo XIV will meet Church leaders, government representatives, young people, families, and members of the cultural and sporting communities. Through 23 speeches, greetings, and homilies, he will address key themes including dialogue between Church, politics, and culture, as well as human and technological progress.

Bruni said peace and disarmament will be central topics at a time when conflicts continue across the world and the use of weapons is increasingly justified. He added that the journey will highlight the Church’s role in Spain and Europe as a constructive voice in public debate.

The Pope will also focus on the defence of life, especially the protection of vulnerable communities. Migration will be a major theme during his visit to the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants and those involved in supporting them along the Atlantic migration route.

In Madrid, Pope Leo XIV will visit the social project “Cedia 24 Horas,” a centre supporting vulnerable people and the homeless. Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid, said the Pope will begin his encounter with Spain through “the world of vulnerability and human peripheries.”

The visit will include several significant moments, including meetings at the Royal Palace, Congress of Deputies, Movistar Arena, and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In Barcelona, the Pope will visit the Basilica of Sagrada Família during the centenary year of the death of its architect Antoni Gaudí and will inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ.

Bruni said the Pope’s journey represents an encounter with a society that is highly secularised yet continues to carry deep Christian roots. Pope Leo XIV will also take part in the Corpus Christi procession on June 7, highlighting a faith that “walks through the streets.”

The Pope will deliver his speeches mainly in Spanish, with one address in French for migrants from French-speaking African nations. Bruni also said the Pope may speak some words in Catalan during the visit.

Pope Leo XIV’s Spain Visit to Highlight Peace, Migration, Youth and Church’s Role in Society

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