This high moment of the pope’s visit took place in Barcelona, in the presence of the monarchs of this majority Catholic country.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo visits famed Spanish monastery, entrusting his ministry to the Virgin of Montserrat
On the fourth day of his visit to Spain, Pope Leo travelled to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. It was the beginning of a very spiritual day for the missionary pope.
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Pope Leo tackles depression, domestic violence and the ‘cult of self-image’ in dialogue with young people
At a prayer vigil with 40,000 young people in Barcelona’s Olympic stadium, Pope Leo engaged in a dialogue with three young people.
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Pope Leo blesses 21 ambulances that an Argentine nun is taking to Ukraine
Before he entered the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona to greet 40,000 young people this evening, Pope Leo got out of his car to greet the dynamic Lucía Caram, O.P., an Argentine nun living in Spain, and bless the 21 ambulances, one pickup truck and nine other vehicles that she and her team have collected to be taken to war-torn Ukraine.
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Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain
“During the conversation, which lasted nearly an hour, each person present shared their own painful personal experiences and offered the pope suggestions on how to make the Church’s response to such tragic cases more effective.”
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Pope Leo defends the unborn and migrants in historic speech to Spanish parliament
Leo XIV, the first pope to address the Spanish parliament, received a seven-minute standing ovation.
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More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid
It was a profoundly religious experience that he and they are likely to treasure in their hearts for many years.
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In Spain, Pope Leo denounces polarization and hails commitment to multilateralism
Speaking in Spanish, Leo went on to issue a pressing appeal to the state authorities and to the Spanish people to overcome this polarization.
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Interview: Madrid’s Cardinal Cobo says Pope Leo’s visit to Spain ‘is bringing out the best in people’
Cardinal José Cobo Cano, the archbishop of Madrid, knows Pope Leo well—and is experiencing “great joy” preparing for the Holy Father’s visit.
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Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain from June 6-12 will take the pontiff to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.