Pope Leo XIV delivered a historic, first-ever papal address to Spain's parliament, warning of a "profound spiritual and cultural crisis" and receiving a seven-minute standing ovation. He called for "safe and legal pathways" for migrants and urged peace through dialogue amid renewed Mideast conflict. The speech is part of a week-long visit that also addresses the "scourge" of clerical abuse in Spain.
Papal address to parliament
- ▪The Pope's speech warned that the world is undergoing a "profound spiritual and cultural crisis" manifested in violence and polarization
- ▪The Pope's address also touched on artificial intelligence, the climate emergency, abortion, and euthanasia
- ▪Pope Leo XIV delivered the first-ever papal address to the Spanish parliament in Madrid on June 8, 2026
- ▪Lawmakers gave Pope Leo XIV a seven-minute standing ovation following his address
Migration rights advocacy
- ▪Pope Leo XIV called for "safe and legal pathways" for migrants, along with a respectful welcome and real opportunities for integration
- ▪Spain's far-right Vox party has opposed the government's migrant regularization scheme, calling it an "invasion."
- ▪Spain's government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has a program to grant legal status to an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants
- ▪The Pope stated that a lack of help for the world's migrants challenges "the ethical foundation of the international order."
- ▪As part of his visit, Pope Leo XIV plans to travel to the Canary Islands, a main entry point for migrants into Europe
- ▪More than 3,000 migrants died in 2025 while attempting to reach the Canary Islands by sea from Africa, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras
Middle East peace calls
- ▪Pope Leo XIV called for "patient dialogue" and the use of international law to resolve disputes, stating weapons cannot build lasting peace
- ▪The Pope's speech occurred as Israel and Iran renewed hostilities, threatening a regional war
European rearmament concerns
- ▪The Pope expressed concern over rising European military spending, which he called an "almost inevitable response" to international fragility
- ▪Pope Leo XIV also called for "rigorous ethical vigilance" over the use of artificial intelligence in warfare
Church role in Spain
- ▪During his visit, Pope Leo XIV denounced clerical sexual abuse as a "scourge" and called for listening, justice, and reparation for victims
- ▪A 2023 report from Spain's ombudsman estimated that around 200,000 minors were victims of clerical sexual abuse in Spain since 1940
- ▪The Pope's invitation to speak is seen as a sign of new acceptance for the Catholic Church in Spain, where its influence declined after the Franco dictatorship
- ▪Some groups representing abuse survivors complained of being excluded from a planned private meeting with the Pope
Spanish colonial slavery apology
- ▪The Pope's comment was a reference to the Catholic Church's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonial conquest
- ▪The Pope referenced the 16th-century School of Salamanca, acknowledging the Church did not always live up to its own insights on human rights
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