On the fourth day of his Apostolic Journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV closed his time in Madrid meeting volunteers before taking a short flight to the northeast part of the country: Barcelona.
Kielce Gussie – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
To conclude his time in Spain’s capital city, Pope Leo spent his last morning in Madrid meeting with volunteers who dedicated their time to help others truly live his visit and he offered them his heartfelt gratitude.
The Pope highlighted their generosity in responding quickly to the call for assistance. “Each of you gave what you could, offering your heart, hands, ideas, talents and smiles,” he said. “May God reward you as only He knows how!”
Pope Leo urged all Christians to bring the “leaven of selflessness” to everyone. “Selflessness is like leaven that makes the human, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of a society grow, and it is a distinctive element of the ‘City of God’,” he noted.
Part two begins
Around noon, Pope Leo arrived at his second destination of the Apostolic Journey: Barcelona. At the city’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, he began with midday prayer after being met with crowds along the streets.
Using his love and knowledge of languages, the Pope delivered his homily in a mixture of Catalan and Spanish and invited everyone to reflect on the images of the Bride and the Body. He highlighted how Barcelona’s Catholic community—rich in a diversity of gifts, charisms, and personal stories—is an example of the image of the Bride.
Moreover, we are all one body in Christ. Just as in a body, “there are members who are stronger and others who are weaker”. Some members of the Church are visible in their work and others more hidden.
In light of this, he challenged everyone to make unity a priority. “We are strong because we are united, and we are united because we are animated by the same Spirit”.
‘We are made for the infinite’
On his first evening in Barcelona, Pope Leo met with young people at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium and listened to three testimonies, which reflected on themes of conversion, mental health, violence, and suffering.
Then the Pope took time to respond to each of them.
To Ferran, who spoke of an emptiness despite worldly success, Pope Leo stressed that “we are made for the infinite. That is why every finite horizon, every step, every achievement – while satisfying us – also propels us forward and invites us to keep searching.”
He urged Ferran and all young people to “look within” and to avoid being overwhelmed with life’s fast pace.
To Carmina, who recounted her struggle with depression, Pope Leo highlighted how “this is a sign that there is something deeply wrong with a certain notion of progress that subjects people to pressures, expectations and tensions that compromise healthy balances.” He encouraged her to look to Christ’s Passion in “those dark hours.”
Young people listening to Pope Leo’s words at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona (@Vatican Media)
Finally, speaking to Cecilia, who had lived through domestic violence, addiction, and separation from her family, the Pope turned to forgiveness. “We must learn to view forgiveness – that powerful remedy for evil that heals our inner wounds – as part of a process and a journey”, he said.
Reflect honestly
In a homily after speaking to young people, the Pope looked at modern day Spain and urged everyone to honestly reflect on the challenges of today’s society, including poverty, social division and cultural change, asking them to think about what kind of future they want to create together.
The Pope explained “this country may then be a welcoming space for all, where each person’s dignity is respected and everyone loved for who they are.”
