The Pope has arrived in Madrid. Around 10:30 AM, his plane landed at Adolfo Suárez Madrid -Barajas airport, where he was awaited by the King and Queen of Spain and other authorities, such as the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the Mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez Almeida, the Government Delegate, Francisco Martín, and the highest authorities of the Church, led by Cardinal José Cobo.
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The motto of this visit by the Pontiff is ‘Look up’ to analyze everything that is happening in the world. Madrid has been flooded with flags and posters to welcome Leo XIV.
A little after 11:30 AM, he arrived at the Royal Palace, where the first official reception took place. There, he met with Princess Leonor of Asturias and Infanta Sofia, among other authorities. The President of the Government and the Royal Family had a private reception with the Pontiff. Afterwards, he greeted the authorities in the Throne Room, about 200 guests. In the Column Hall, King Felipe VI delivered a speech and Leo XIV spoke his first words in Spanish.
Shortly after 1:30 PM, and before continuing with the afternoon’s scheduled events, the Pontiff left the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace aboard the Popemobile, with the royal family bidding him farewell as the bells of La Almudena Cathedral rang.
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From 1:40 PM, his first journey in his open Popemobile through the city streets began. It was his first mass immersion among citizens of the capital and visitors who had come to Madrid to see Leo XIV up close. He traveled through Plaza de España, as well as streets like Gran Vía, Princesa, and San Bernardo until he reached Calle de Génova, near the Audiencia Nacional. It was planned for him to arrive at Plaza de Colón, but he got off a little earlier and transferred in a closed car to the Apostolic Nunciature. About 130,000 people received the Pope in the streets of Madrid on his first route between the Royal Palace and the Nunciature.
At 6 PM, the Pope will visit a Cáritas Diocesana center to learn more about the Cedia 24 hours social project. He will meet with about 200 people, including operators and beneficiaries, to learn about the initiative to help homeless people. Niña Pastori will perform at this event. Afterwards, at 8 PM, the first large-scale event will take place in Plaza de Lima, a vigil with young people from all over Spain, who are staying in religious schoolyards. There will be performances by numerous artists, such as Hakuna, Siloé, Besmaya, Antoñito Molina, Ignacio Serrano, among others. About 240,000 young people are expected to attend.
