Final Day of Pope Leo XIV's Visit: Meeting with Victims and Speech in Congress. Madrid is hosting the final day of Pope Leo XIV's visit. The agenda includes a meeting with the Prime Minister, a historic address in parliament, and a large-scale event at the stadium. Authorities have increased security measures and restricted traffic.
On Monday, Madrid became the center of attention due to the final day of Pope Leon XIV's visit. The city faced major traffic restrictions and heightened security measures: authorities had warned in advance about road closures, changes in public transport, and recommended that residents switch to remote work. The reason was the pontiff's busy schedule, including meetings with top officials, a speech in parliament, and a major religious event at the stadium.
The morning began with Pope Leon XIV's visit to the Nunciature, where he met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Afterwards, the pontiff went to the Congress of Deputies to address both chambers of the Spanish parliament for the first time in history. The event was attended by leaders of most political parties, deputies, senators, regional presidents, former heads of state and representatives of key government bodies. The only minister absent from the session was Transport Minister Óscar Puente, who was in Luxembourg for a meeting of the EU Council.
From early morning, there was increased police activity in the area around Congress, and journalists lined up in long queues for accreditation. Additional areas were allocated for the press to ensure a live broadcast of Pope Leon XIV's address. According to city authorities, every route taken by the pontiff was accompanied by complete road closures and thorough security checks.
During the day, a closed-door meeting was held at the Nunciature between the Pope and victims of sexual abuse within the church. The Spanish side was responsible for organizing the meeting, and the Vatican promised to disclose details only if necessary to preserve confidentiality. Leon XIV himself had previously noted that the issue of abuse remains an 'open wound' for the church, and confirmed his intention to meet with victims during his visit.
In the evening, Pope Leon XIV visited Almudena Cathedral, where a prayer service and ceremony were held in honor of the patron saint of Madrid. Afterwards, he went to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where he was greeted by about 70,000 faithful from various parishes, Catholic schools, and religious organizations. Organizers noted that the stadium had been transformed into a 'great temple of faith' for the gathering with the diocesan community.
The Pope's movement around the city followed two routes in the popemobile: first from Glorieta de Pirámides to the cathedral, then along central streets to the stadium. This allowed thousands of residents to see the pontiff in person. Authorities had previously warned of possible traffic congestion on the M-30 and in the city center, and increased the service of the metro, commuter trains, and buses.
Yesterday, during Mass at Plaza de Cibeles, Pope Leon XIV addressed the faithful with a call to avoid hypocrisy and reminded them that faith should be expressed in actions. His speeches in Spain focused on issues of peace, dialogue, social justice, and support for vulnerable groups.
Pope Leo XIV's visit marked the first time the head of the Vatican addressed the Spanish parliament. On Tuesday, the pontiff will continue his trip across the country and head to Barcelona. As previously reported, traffic restrictions in Madrid and Barcelona were introduced for the entire duration of the visit, which affected the daily lives of residents in both capitals.
For reference: Spain regularly hosts major international visits, with authorities each time stepping up security measures and adjusting transport infrastructure. Pope Leo XIV's visit included not only religious events but also important political meetings, underscoring the significance of this event for the country.
