From packed squares and emotional encounters with the faithful to emphatic calls for peace, unity, and evangelization, Pope Leo XIV's recent visit to Spain offered no shortage of memorable moments. The Holy Father visited Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Tenerife from June 6–12.
Throughout his journey, the pope connected with Catholics across the country while highlighting Spain's rich spiritual heritage and encouraging believers to renew their faith in an increasingly secular world.
Here is a look at 10 of the most powerful moments from Pope Leo's visit to Spain:
1. Over a million Catholics join Pope Leo for Corpus Christi procession in Madrid
One of the most stunning moments came during the Eucharistic procession on the solemnity of Corpus Christi when 1.6 million people gathered in the famous Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid to be a part of the pope's celebration of Mass, procession, and Eucharistic blessing.
In Madrid, Pope Leo said Corpus Christi is "more than just another celebration on the liturgical calendar ... It is a way of returning to the heart of the faith to renew our love and fidelity to God."
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2. Pope Leo meets with abuse victims
On the third day of his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo met with six victims of abuse committed "by members of the clergy and the Church" in the country.
The victims, the Vatican stated, were "accompanied by Church personnel engaged in supporting and accompanying victims."
During the hourlong meeting, the victims shared their "painful personal experiences" with the Holy Father, and each person presented him with "proposals to make the Church's response to such tragic cases more effective."
Shortly before meeting with victims, the Holy Father urged the Spanish bishops to respond to the "scourge" of abuse in the Church "with listening, truth, justice, reparation, and an ever-more-determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care."
"Every wounded person must be able to find sincere listening, welcome, protection, and real paths to healing," the Holy Father said.
3. Pope Leo becomes first pope to address Spanish Parliament
Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history to address the Spanish Parliament when he spoke to lawmakers on Monday, June 8, the third day of his apostolic journey.
Although he is the third pope to visit Spain, after St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, none of Leo's predecessors addressed the legislative body representing the Spanish people.
The pope received nearly seven minutes of applause at the end of his speech, which urged lawmakers to protect human life from conception until natural death.
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4. Pope honors Our Lady of Almudena with Golden Rose
One of the greatest devotions among Spanish Catholics is to Our Lady of Almudena — the patron saint of Madrid.
According to tradition, as Moorish forces invaded the region in A.D. 712, the citizens of Madrid secretly hid their beloved statue of the Virgin Mary inside the thick stone walls of the city's fortress, leaving two lit candles beside it. In 1085, after King Alfonso VI reconquered Madrid, the Christians searched for the statue. While processing around the city walls, a section of the wall miraculously crumbled, revealing the statue perfectly preserved with the candles still burning after centuries.
On June 8, that enduring devotion received one of the Church's highest marks of recognition when Pope Leo XIV bestowed a Golden Rose upon the historic statue.
"As a symbol of the pope's filial love for the Virgin Mary, I will place a Golden Rose at her feet," Leo said during a ceremony at Madrid's Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena.
The papal honor — one of the highest distinctions a pope can bestow upon a Marian image or shrine — recognizes the deep devotion generations of Spanish Catholics have shown to the Blessed Virgin under the title of Almudena.
The exact origin of the gifting of a Golden Rose is unknown, although it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions. The earliest reliable record dates to 1096, when Pope Urban II sent one to Fulcone d'Angers.
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5. Pope Leo entrusts his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat
While in Montserrat, the Holy Father visited the Abbey of Montserrat, which is nestled among towering rock formations that resemble sculpted figures of animals or objects.
At the foot of Montserrat, after praying the rosary, the pope lifted up his prayer: "Let us ask her to help us clothe ourselves only with the armor of God."
He added: "Let us also consider how the Virgin holds the globe in her right hand, a sign of her maternal care, for the whole world finds a place in her heart. She invites us to recognize one another as brothers and sisters, so that no one is excluded and that communion is stronger than every division," he added.
The image of Mary currently venerated is a 12th-century Romanesque wooden sculpture, just over 3 feet tall, depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Except for the faces and hands, the statue is covered in gold, while the Virgin's dark complexion has earned her the popular nickname "La Moreneta."
"I am happy to come to the feet of La Moreneta to entrust to her, with full confidence in her maternal intercession, my Petrine ministry and the mission of the Church in a world that cries out for justice and peace," the pope said.
6. Pope Leo prays with young man's rosary — then gives it back to him
While in Barcelona, an encounter between the pope and a young man named Sergi went viral.
During the pope's visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, Sergi handed Leo his rosary. The pontiff slipped it into his pocket before using it minutes later to pray during the event.
"I just wanted him to bless it, that's all, but he asked me, 'Is it for me?' And I'm not going to say no, so of course I said yes, and he kept it," the young man told EWTN News.
But the story didn't end there. Unexpectedly, after the event, Sergi managed to recover his prized sacramental, now prayed with by the pope.
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7. Pope Leo visits the tomb of Venerable Antoni Gaudí
Before celebrating Mass at the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, ??Pope Leo took time to visit the crypt, pray before the Blessed Sacrament, and light a candle at the tomb of Venerable Antoni Gaudí, who designed the iconic basilica more than a century ago.
Gaudí, known as the "architect of God," died in 1926 and is buried in the basilica crypt. He was known for his intense personal faith and devotion to the building of the Sagrada Família.
The Vatican announced April 14, 2025, that Pope Francis had formally recognized Gaudí's "heroic virtue," a key step in the canonization process. Two miracles attributed to Gaudí's intercession are now required for his canonization.
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8. Pope Leo celebrates Mass in iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica
One of the historic milestones of Pope Leo's visit to Spain was the opportunity to realize Antoni Gaudí's dream: the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, coinciding exactly with the centenary of the great architect's death.
The spectacular central spire is crowned by a white cross that makes the basilica the tallest in the world and will be open to visitors starting in 2028.
After Mass, Leo XIV stepped outside to bless and inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ — before a stunning celebration of lights and sacred music — in which the pope, rather than simply putting his stamp on a finished work, charted a course for Christians.
"The Sagrada Família is the tallest church in the world — not to stand out in worldly rankings but to guide the steps of God's people journeying through this land of Catalonia, with the cross illuminating the path like a lamp lit in anticipation of the Bridegroom's return," he affirmed.
"The entire city of Barcelona and all of Catalonia gather in this temple — itself a sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain — and lift their gaze to encounter the face of God the Father, resplendent in his Son-made-man, Jesus Christ," the pope added.
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9. Pope Leo blesses a cross made of wood from the boats of migrants
At the Port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria — a place that became a symbol of the migration crisis in the Canary Islands — Pope Leo offered a powerful witness to the dignity of every human person. Standing at a dock marked by the suffering and loss of those who arrived after dangerous journeys across the Atlantic, he prayed for migrants, denounced human trafficking, and called the world to a deeper examination of conscience.
The visit concluded beside the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of seafarers, where the Holy Father blessed a memorial cross made from the wood of migrant boats and erected in honor of those who lost their lives at sea. Entrusting migrants and all who undertake perilous journeys to her maternal care, he transformed a place once known for tragedy into a sign of hope and remembrance.
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10. Pope Leo gives a powerful message to human traffickers
During the last day of his papal trip, Pope Leo raised his voice with unusual force.
In Tenerife, he spoke against human traffickers — those who charge staggering sums to allow migrants cross the ocean and those who enslave them mercilessly.
"For every life lost, every family deceived, every body subjugated, every woman threatened, every worker exploited, you will have to appear before divine justice," the pope said.
"Break those chains and free those you hold in bondage," he added. "Return what has been taken and make amends as much as you can."
Leo declared strongly: "Stop. Repent."
To those who profit from the suffering of others, the Holy Father left open the door of return to God.
"Repent while there is still time," he said, "for God's mercy can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it enters only through the narrow gate of truth, justice, and conversion."
