1.2 Million Gather for Pope Mass in Madrid
Pope Leo XIV greeted by massive crowd in Madrid during historic open-air mass.
The update
About 1.2 million people gathered in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles for Pope Leo XIV’s open-air mass on Sunday, the largest event during his week-long apostolic journey to Spain. The pontiff arrived in his popemobile to chants of “Long live the pope” as crowds waved Spanish and Vatican flags and tossed flower petals. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were among the congregants for the morning service.
Why it matters
The massive turnout highlights the Pope’s message of inclusion and social values. He urged the faithful to express their religion by helping others, saying God “identifies with the poor, the downtrodden, those who are alone and forsaken.” His visit marks his first to a European Union country outside Italy, where he hopes to set an example about respecting “every human being.”
What to watch
How Pope Leo’s emphasis on inclusion resonates with Spanish society during his remaining stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands. The pontiff will meet migrants and refugees in the Canary Islands, having already spent time with migrants and homeless people in Madrid. Authorities have mounted a major security operation for the events.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — crowd size, Pope's message of inclusion, details of visit
- BBC — crowd size, Pope's remarks, details of mass