More than a million people lined the streets of Madrid on Sunday morning to witness Pope Leo as he traveled to an open-air Mass, the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain. The Vatican and local organizers reported that approximately 1.2 million people gathered in Cibeles Square and surrounding streets.
A Grand Welcome
Waving flags and shouting, "Long live the pope," the crowd cheered as Pope Leo was driven in the popemobile down Madrid's main thoroughfare, Paseo de la Castellana, toward Cibeles Square. Some attendees tossed flower petals as he arrived. The pope was handed the key to the city by the mayor, and he wrote in the guest book, "May Madrid remain a welcoming and inclusive city, where social life is inspired by genuine human values."
Focus on Migrants and the Vulnerable
Pope Leo began his trip on Saturday with meetings with migrants and the homeless, as well as a vigil attended by about 600,000 young people in Madrid. His June 6-12 visit also includes stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants who have risked their lives crossing from West Africa. He expressed hope that his visit, his first to an EU country outside Italy, would set an example of respecting "every human being" and urged leaders to stop dividing electorates.
Andrea Margarita, a 72-year-old Peruvian who arrived in Spain six months ago, waited in the crowd in a wheelchair with her daughter. She said, "I am delighted that he is praying for us migrants and for our safety."
Schedule After Mass
Following the Mass, Pope Leo was scheduled to hold a private meeting with fellow members of his Augustinian religious order in the afternoon. Later, he was to meet figures from the world of entertainment, sport, and culture at a concert venue in central Madrid.
