Pope to Address Spanish Cortes for the First Time: Vatican Confirms Visit Date. The Vatican has officially announced: The Pope will address Congress on June 8. His agenda includes meetings with the King, the Prime Minister, and visits to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. The question of a meeting with victims of pederasty remains unresolved.
The Vatican has officially confirmed for the first time: on June 8, the Pope will deliver a historic address to the Congress of Deputies of Spain at a joint session of both chambers. This will be the key event of the Pope's visit to the country, which will take place from June 6 to 12 and will cover Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife. Never before has the head of the Catholic Church addressed Spanish parliamentarians, giving this visit special political and public significance.
Main focus of the visit
According to the Holy See, the itinerary includes meetings with the King of Spain at the residence in La Zarzuela, a visit to a homeless shelter in Madrid, a mass youth gathering at Lima Square, and a Corpus Christi Mass at Cibeles Square. On Monday, June 8, the Pope will first meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and then address Congress. The Madrid leg of the visit will conclude with a large gathering at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Political context and migration
The visit comes amid tense relations between the Spanish Church and the Vox party over the episcopate's stance on migration issues. In November, the Pope had already warned Spanish bishops about the risk of political manipulation by extremists. The Vatican has welcomed the government's plan to legalize migrants, and specific points in the program — such as the trip to the Canary Islands and visits to migration centers — highlight a focus on social issues and support for vulnerable groups.
Question of meeting with victims
Despite expectations, the published program does not yet include any information about a possible meeting between the Pope and victims of clerical pedophilia. However, representatives of the Spanish church do not rule out that such contact could happen privately, as has occurred during previous papal trips abroad. According to EL PAÍS, there are more than 1,600 accused and over 3,100 victims in Spain, but the official church statistics remain undisclosed. The response and actions of the Catholic hierarchy continue to generate public debate.
Route details and expectations
After Madrid, the Pope will travel to Barcelona, where he will visit the Montserrat Monastery and the Sagrada Familia to inaugurate the new Jesus Tower. He will then fly to Gran Canaria, visiting the port of Arguineguín—a symbol of the migration crisis on the islands—and, on June 12, the Las Raíces Migrant Center in Tenerife. That same day, the Pope will return to Rome. In the cities the pontiff will visit, preparations and discussions have been ongoing for several months, with program details frequently the subject of leaks and disputes between local authorities and the Vatican.
During the press conference, representatives of the episcopate emphasized that the Pope’s invitation to address parliament was unanimously supported by both chambers. However, it is possible that some factions might refuse to participate or protest on specific issues related to migration or abortion. The head of the episcopal conference noted that the Pope’s speech would focus on dialogue, unity, and the pursuit of the common good, which today goes beyond national boundaries.
In the context of other significant events in Spain, it is worth noting that the Catalan authorities recently announced the winners of the national communication awards, which included Justo Molinero, Esther Vera, and 3Cat. The award ceremony will take place in Sabadell, rather than in Barcelona, which has also attracted public attention (more about the Generalitat awards).
