Pope Leo XIV arrives tomorrow in Madrid on his first visit to Spain, which will last until June 12. His journey will take him to Barcelona and conclude in the Canary Islands. There is interest in knowing what messages the Pope will want to deliver in Spain and how his speeches will be received by the political sphere.
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The director of the Fundació Catalunya Religió, Jordi Llisterri, a journalist expert in religious information for almost 40 years, explains in the video preceding this text what the main lines of the Pope’s messages in Spain might be. In conversation with Enric Sierra, deputy director of La Vanguardia, Llisterri points out that, given the visit’s agenda and Leo XIV’s ideological trajectory, there could be at least five key ideas.
Firstly, Llisterri points out that Pope Prevost will bring up the negative consequences of polarization for our society. In this regard, he recalls that Leo XIV had to deal with political, social, and economic polarization during his stay in Fujimori’s Peru. This marked his subsequent discourse, and he always warns whenever he has the opportunity in countries where this situation is reproduced, as is the case in current Spain.
Jordi Llisterri indicates that the speeches the Pope will deliver in Spain will have political interpretations, and it is very likely that parties will want to interpret them in favor of their interests. Along these lines, Leo XIV’s position against the administration of US President Donald Trump may please Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, who has positioned himself as an opponent of the White House occupant’s management.
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The Pope’s visit to a prison seeks to remember “the discarded” by society and wants to convey the idea that “everyone has the right to a second chance,” explains Llisterri. In contrast, his visit to the parish of Sant Agustí in Barcelona will be an act of support for volunteer work with poverty.
Will he speak about pedophilia in the Church? Jordi Llisterri does not rule it out, and if he does, he will take advantage of the institutional visit to Madrid to address this delicate issue, on which this Pope’s attitude “is irreproachable.” Finally, another powerful message will be delivered in the Canary Islands, where he will meet with immigrants who arrived by dinghy.
Jordi Llisterri explains in the video preceding this text what the two most important photographs of the Pope’s visit to Spain will be. The first will be blessing the Jesus Christ Tower of the Sagrada Família, the tallest church in the world. And the second will be with immigrants in the Canary Islands and will serve as a prelude to Leo XIV’s trip on July 4 to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where thousands of immigrants arrive by sea.
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