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By Open Chronicle with agencies
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday for a weeklong visit centered on migration, peace, social inclusion, and dialogue, marking the first papal visit to the country in 15 years.
The pontiff was welcomed upon arrival by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. His visit, which runs until June 12, will take him to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, where some of the most symbolic moments of the trip are expected to take place.
The journey is the first visit by Pope Leo XIV to a major European Union country outside Italy since his election and is seen as an opportunity to highlight the priorities that have shaped the early months of his pontificate. Among them are support for migrants, efforts to promote peace, and a renewed focus on vulnerable communities.
A central theme of the visit will be migration. In the Canary Islands, one of Europe’s main entry points for migrants crossing from West Africa, the pope is expected to meet migrants, humanitarian workers, and relatives of those who lost their lives attempting the perilous Atlantic journey.
The visit also carries symbolic significance because it fulfills a plan long envisioned by Pope Francis. The late pontiff had hoped to travel to the Canary Islands but was unable to do so due to declining health before he died in 2025.
Among those expected to meet the pope is Ousseynou Fall, a Senegalese migrant who survived a deadly sea crossing to Gran Canaria in 2020 during which his brother lost his life.
Beyond migration, the pope’s itinerary includes several historic and high-profile engagements. He is scheduled to become the first pontiff to address Spain’s parliament, visit a prison in Catalonia, and preside over a ceremony at Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica to mark the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ.
During the flight from Rome to Spain, Pope Leo XIV also addressed the issue of clergy sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, describing it as “an open wound” and reaffirming his commitment to supporting victims and continuing reforms.
“I am going to receive some victims. Unfortunately, it is impossible to receive everyone,” the pope told journalists traveling with him, confirming plans to meet abuse survivors during the visit.
Spain has not hosted a papal visit since 2011, when Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Madrid for World Youth Day. The return of a pope to Spain comes at a time when the country, like much of Europe, is grappling with debates over migration, social cohesion, and the future role of faith in public life.
Observers view the visit as an important opportunity for Pope Leo XIV to reinforce his message of dialogue and solidarity while engaging with some of the most pressing social and political challenges facing Europe today.