Since June 6, 2026, Pope Leo XIV has been on a seven-day apostolic journey in Spain. This historic trip has taken him from Madrid to Barcelona, before ending tomorrow in the Canary Islands. With nearly 2 million faithful expected along the route and 5,000 accredited journalists, the visit stands out as one of the year's most significant religious events in Europe.

This June 10: Montserrat and the inauguration of the Sagrada Família

This Wednesday, the pontiff began his Catalan day with a visit to the Montserrat massif, a major spiritual site perched 720 meters above sea level northwest of Barcelona. The Benedictine abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat has welcomed pilgrims and faithful from all over the world for centuries. For Leo XIV, this symbolic stop fits into a journey placed under the motto “Lift up your eyes”, taken from the Gospel according to Saint John.

But the highlight of the day took place in the evening in Barcelona: at 7:30 p.m., the pope celebrated Mass at the basilica of the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, where he officially inaugurated the tower of Jesus Christ. At 172.5 meters, this tower is now the highest point of the building, which has 18 towers in total representing the apostles, the evangelists, the Virgin and Christ. The ceremony was held for the centenary of Gaudí's death, who died in 1926 in the same city. Some 8,000 guests attended this event loaded with history and symbolism.

“The Sagrada Família is not only a work of art, it is a prayer in stone offered to heaven,” the pope said in his homily.

Tomorrow in the Canaries: a strong message on migration

On Thursday, June 11, Leo XIV will leave Barcelona for the Canary Islands, volcanic islands off the African coast that are among the main migratory gateways into Europe. His presence there is no accident: for several years, the archipelago has faced a humanitarian crisis linked to the arrival of thousands of migrants via the Atlantic route.

In Gran Canaria: meetings with migrant families

On arriving at the port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria, the pope will meet 1,800 people from migrant families, accompanied by their children. This port is one of the main landing points for makeshift boats crossing the Atlantic from the African coasts. Leo XIV will then celebrate Mass at the Gran Canaria stadium, before up to 32,000 faithful.

In Tenerife: at the heart of the humanitarian drama

In Tenerife, the pope will visit the Las Raíces reception center, where 753 migrants are currently housed. The farewell Mass in Puerto de la Cruz will include a highly symbolic gesture: three pirogues — the typical boats used by African migrants to cross the Atlantic — will accompany the pope near the altar. A silent tribute to the thousands of people who have lost their lives at sea trying to reach Europe.

This strong gesture recalls one of Leo XIV's priorities: alerting world opinion to the tragic drama of migration. The pope has called on European governments for greater solidarity and legal migration routes, denouncing policies that “turn the Mediterranean and the Atlantic into cemeteries.”

A journey with record figures

This apostolic journey in Spain will be remembered for its logistical and human scale. Adding together the trips between cities, Leo XIV will have traveled nearly 2,500 kilometers across the country. In Madrid alone, he traveled 20 kilometers in the popemobile to get as close as possible to the crowd.

• Around 2 million faithful expected over the whole journey
• 5,000 journalists accredited to cover the event
• Estimated cost of €25 million, with economic benefits estimated at more than €150 million
• 14,000 security agents mobilized for the Madrid stage alone
• 12 speeches and 5 homilies delivered in seven days

Who is Leo XIV?

Elected in 2025, Leo XIV is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Born in the United States, he spent much of his missionary life in Latin America before being chosen by the conclave. His pontificate is marked by special attention to social and migration issues, in line with the commitments of his predecessors.

This journey to Spain — the fourth apostolic journey of his pontificate — illustrates the country's strategic importance for the Catholic Church. Despite the decline of religious practice in Western Europe, Spain remains among the nations with the continent's highest rates of observance.

Until June 12: one final message before Rome

After his stops in the Canaries, Leo XIV will return to Rome on the evening of Thursday, June 12. This seven-day journey has been marked by massive popular gatherings, meetings with the poorest and strong symbolic acts — beginning with the inauguration of the Sagrada Família tower. A journey that will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark in the memory of Spanish Catholics and, beyond borders, in the European debate on migration.