Pope Leo Draws 1.2 Million in Madrid

CNBC reported Sunday that Pope Leo XIV addressed an estimated 1.2 million people near Madrid’s landmark Cibeles Square. The outdoor Mass is expected to be the single largest gathering of his week-long Spanish tour.

A City Square Overflows With Faithful

Crowds pressed against barriers lining the square as Leo arrived by popemobile, with supporters waving flags and throwing flower petals along his route. Chants of support broke out as he made his way through the streets. Vatican officials and local organizers jointly confirmed the attendance figure of 1.2 million people.

In his sermon, Leo declared that God stands alongside society’s most vulnerable — those who are poor, downtrodden, alone, and abandoned. He had earlier signed Madrid’s official guestbook and expressed hope the city would remain a welcoming and inclusive place, guided by genuine human values. The city’s mayor formally presented him with the key to Madrid.

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Migrants and Youth at the Center of the Visit

Leo had opened his Spanish trip on Saturday with direct meetings with migrants and homeless individuals. A youth vigil on his first evening drew roughly 600,000 young people to the capital. The June 6-12 itinerary also takes him to Barcelona and the Canary Islands. There, he is scheduled to meet migrants who survived dangerous Atlantic crossings from West Africa.

The pope described the Spanish visit as his first to a European Union country beyond Italy. He said he hoped it would send a signal to the world about the importance of respecting every human being. He also directed a pointed message at political leaders, urging them to stop exploiting social divisions to mobilize voters.

One attendee, a 72-year-old Peruvian woman who had arrived in Spain only six months earlier, told the gathered press she was moved that the pope was praying specifically for migrants and their safety.

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What Comes Next on the Tour

After the Mass, Leo was set to meet privately with fellow members of his Augustinian religious order. He was then scheduled to attend a concert in central Madrid alongside figures from entertainment, sport, and culture. Barcelona and the Canary Islands visits remain ahead before the tour concludes on June 12.

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