Pope Leo XIV Begins Spanish Visit, Praises Government

Pope Leo XIV began his official visit to Spain by commending the country’s stance on war and its support for migrants, a message delivered at a reception hosted by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia in Madrid’s Royal Palace.

The pontiff praised Spain’s "active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples" and highlighted its opposition to armed conflicts. He also lauded the nation’s sincere adherence to international law and multilateralism, noting that the Spanish government had been "fairly consistent" in its diplomacy.

King Felipe VI hailed Pope Leo’s "clarity and firmness" on the issue of sexual abuse in the Church, stating it was "essential in the process of healing and reparation of the damage inflicted".

During the week‑long tour, the bishop will meet survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and will interact with groups that help migrants. The visit follows a recent government‑church partnership aimed at providing financial compensation to victims.

Spain’s immigration policy, which includes plans to grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, has drawn praise from the Pope and the monarch. He will later join Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the Canary Islands to honor the thousands of migrants who have lost their lives attempting to reach Europe.

In a light‑hearted moment, the Pope answered a reporter’s question about his preferred football club with diplomatic neutrality, mentioning that "Prevost is for Real Madrid" – a reference to his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost.

Officials and journalists observed that the Pope’s message—"now more than ever, it is essential to welcome those who do not retreat into preconceived ideologies"—could be viewed as a tacit endorsement of the socialist government’s migration stance.