MADRID — Pope Leo delivered a message centered on compassion and social justice on Sunday as more than 1.2 million people gathered in Madrid for a massive outdoor Mass, marking what is expected to be the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain.
The crowds filled streets around Cibeles Square, waving flags, cheering, and greeting the pope as he arrived in his white popemobile. Many attendees threw flower petals as he passed through the densely packed gathering.
Vatican officials and local organizers said about 1.2 million people attended the Mass, turning central Madrid into one of the largest religious assemblies in Europe in recent years.
In his homily, Pope Leo called on Catholics to live out their faith through service to others, especially those who are marginalized and suffering.
“God identifies with the poor, the downtrodden, those who are alone and forsaken,” he said, underscoring what he described as the Church’s mission to stand with society’s most vulnerable.
Earlier in the day, the pope expressed hope that Madrid would remain “a welcoming and inclusive city” guided by genuine human values. He made the statement after receiving the city’s key from the mayor and signing the guestbook.
The visit is Pope Leo’s first to a European Union country outside Italy since his election. His June 6 to 12 itinerary includes stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he is expected to meet migrants who risked their lives crossing from West Africa.
He began his Spanish tour on Saturday with meetings with migrants and homeless individuals, followed by a youth vigil attended by around 600,000 people.
Throughout the visit, Pope Leo has emphasized respect for human dignity and warned against political and social divisions, saying he hopes the trip will encourage global leaders to value “every human being.”
Among the attendees in Madrid was Andrea Margarita, a 72-year-old Peruvian migrant who arrived in Spain six months ago.
“I am delighted that he is praying for us migrants and for our safety,” she said while attending the Mass with her daughter.
After the service, Pope Leo was scheduled to meet privately with members of his Augustinian order before attending a cultural gathering with figures from entertainment, sports, and the arts in central Madrid.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
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