Pope Leo calls for leaders to reject polarisation as he begins Spanish tour
Summary
Pope Leo began his visit to Spain by encouraging leaders to promote unity instead of division for political gain. During his tour, he focused on supporting marginalized groups, meeting migrants and abuse survivors, and calling for peace and respect for all people.Key Facts
- Pope Leo’s visit to Spain is his first to an EU country (other than Italy).
- He urged political leaders to avoid polarizing their societies and to respect human dignity.
- The pope met homeless people in Madrid and migrants in the Canary Islands.
- He planned to meet survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and acknowledged the ongoing pain of abuse victims.
- Thousands welcomed the pope in Madrid, where he toured the city in a popemobile.
- Spain has seen a rise in young people identifying as Catholic, increasing from 17.6% in 2010 to 28.8% in 2025.
- Pope Leo criticized how social media and technology can deepen societal divisions.
- Spain’s government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has introduced a large amnesty program for immigrants to gain legal status.
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