An estimated more than one million worshippers flooded the streets surrounding a major square in Madrid on Sunday to attend a large open-air mass led by Pope Leo, marking the biggest gathering of his ongoing week-long visit to Spain.
The huge crowd packed areas around the historic Plaza de Cibeles, waving national and Vatican flags while chanting “Long live the pope” as the pontiff arrived in his white popemobile. Many also expressed their excitement by tossing flower petals into the air as he passed.
According to the Vatican and local organisers, around 1.2 million people took part in the mass across the square and nearby streets.
In his sermon, Pope Leo encouraged Catholics to live out their faith through compassion and support for vulnerable groups. He emphasized that God “identifies with the poor, the downtrodden, those who are alone and forsaken.”
Earlier in the visit, he shared a message of goodwill for Madrid, expressing hope that the city would continue to remain “welcoming and inclusive,” as he was presented with the city’s key by the mayor.
His visit began on Saturday with outreach meetings involving migrants and homeless individuals, followed by a vigil attended by about 600,000 young people. The trip, running from June 6 to 12, also includes planned stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he is expected to meet migrants who risked dangerous journeys from West Africa.
Pope Leo said his first visit to a European Union country outside Italy is aimed at promoting respect for “every human being” and urged global leaders to embrace unity rather than division.
Among the crowd was Andrea Margarita, a 72-year-old Peruvian migrant who arrived in Spain six months ago, who expressed gratitude for the pope’s prayers for migrants.
After the mass, the Pope was scheduled to hold a private meeting with members of the Augustinian order before attending an evening cultural event featuring personalities from sports, entertainment, and the arts in central Madrid.
