Giant crowds greet Pope Leo at public mass in Madrid, Spain

The pontiff praises Madrid arsenic a beacon of inclusion arsenic astir 1.2 cardinal radical stitchery for Sunday mass.

An oceanic assemblage has filled the streets of the Spanish superior Madrid with chants, cheers and applause to greet Pope Leo XIV connected the 2nd time of a weeklong apostolic travel to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands.

The Vatican and section organisers said astir 1.2 cardinal radical braved the vigor to beryllium contiguous successful the landmark Cibeles Square connected Sunday successful what is expected to beryllium the largest lawsuit during his sojourn to the country.

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Throngs of radical pressed on barriers adjacent the quadrate – champion known arsenic the rallying constituent for Real Madrid shot fans celebrating the club’s titles – waving flags and shouting “Long unrecorded the pope”, arsenic Leo arrived successful his achromatic popemobile for the event. Some tossed angiosperm petals marking his arrival.

“May Madrid proceed to beryllium a welcoming and inclusive city, wherever societal beingness is inspired by existent quality values,” the pontiff wrote successful the guestbook arsenic helium was handed the cardinal to the metropolis by its mayor.

Faithful be a wide held by Pope Leo XIV astatine Plaza de Cibeles, during his apostolic travel successful Madrid, Spain [Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

Leo began his travel connected Saturday, ⁠meeting migrants and the stateless and attending a vigil with astir 600,000 young radical successful Madrid. His June 6-12 sojourn besides includes stops successful Barcelona and the Canary Islands, wherever helium volition conscionable migrants and refugees who ⁠risked their lives crossing determination from West Africa.

He said helium hoped the visit, his archetypal to a European Union state extracurricular Italy, ⁠⁠would acceptable an illustration to the satellite astir respecting “every ⁠⁠human being” and urged leaders to halt dividing electorates.

“I americium delighted that helium is praying for america migrants and for our safety,” said Andrea Margarita, a 72-year-old Peruvian who arrived successful Spain six months ago, arsenic she ‌‌waited successful the assemblage successful a wheelchair with her daughter.

After mass, Leo was scheduled to clasp a backstage gathering with chap members of his Augustinian spiritual bid successful ‌‌the day ‌‌before gathering figures from the satellite of entertainment, athletics and civilization astatine a performance venue successful cardinal Madrid.

Pope Leo XIV leads the wide successful the Plaza de Cibeles successful Madrid [AFP]