Skip to content

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV meets royalty, civic leaders, hundreds of thousands of youth in Spain

The Holy Father launched his six-day trip to the European country with a whirlwind first day of diplomatic visits and meetings with societal leaders.

Pope Leo XIV launched his six-day trip to Spain on June 6 by meeting with the countryสผs royalty before holding gatherings with civic leaders and huge crowds of young people in the capital city of Madrid.

The Holy Father met with the countryสผs King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia before paying a visit to a social services project in Madrid and then finishing the day with a massive gathering of hundreds of thousands of young Spanish citizens in the cityสผs Plaza de Lima.

See photos of Pope Leo XIVสผs first day in Spain below.

Pope Leo XIV waves as he prepares to board an ITA Airways flight to Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves as he prepares to board an ITA Airways flight to Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane from Rome to Madrid on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane from Rome to Madrid on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV disembarks from an ITA Airways flight from Rome to Madrid, Spain, on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV disembarks from an ITA Airways flight from Rome to Madrid, Spain, on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed to Spain by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, in a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed to Spain by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, in a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV addresses the king and queen of Spain, authorities, and the diplomatic corps at the Royal Palace in Madrid on June 6, 2026, the first day of his apostolic journey to Spain. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV addresses the king and queen of Spain, authorities, and the diplomatic corps at the Royal Palace in Madrid on June 6, 2026, the first day of his apostolic journey to Spain. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV greets a girl in a wheelchair during a meeting with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV greets a girl in a wheelchair during a meeting with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV hugs a boy during a meeting with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV hugs a boy during a meeting with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV meets with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities who are cared for by charities in the Archdiocese of Madrid on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV meets with a group of around 40 people with longterm illnesses or disabilities who are cared for by charities in the Archdiocese of Madrid on June 6, 2026, at the nunciature in Madrid, Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media.
Pope Leo XIV meets staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV meets staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV pauses for a selfie after his meeting with staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV pauses for a selfie during his meeting with staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV meets a woman from Cuba and her twin babies during an encounter with staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV meets a woman from Cuba and her twin babies during an encounter with staff and beneficiaries, including migrants, of the CEDIA 24 Horas center, part of the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Spain on June 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV greets young people at Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Daniel Ibรกรฑez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV greets young people at Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Daniel Ibรกรฑez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV speaks with young people at Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV speaks with young people at Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV looks upon the Blessed Sacrament after a meeting with young people in Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Daniel Ibรกรฑez/EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV looks upon the Blessed Sacrament after a meeting with young people in Madridสผs Plaza de Lima, June 6, 2026. The Holy Father began his six-day apostolic visit to Spain meeting with the countryสผs royalty and civil leaders along with hundreds of thousands of youth. | Credit: Daniel Ibรกรฑez/EWTN News

Follow the LIVE updates from EWTN News for Pope Leoโ€™s Trip in Spain.

This article was originally publish on EWTN News in English.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp

EWTN News Staff

The EWTN News Staff is a team of journalists dedicated to reporting news concerning the Catholic Church around the world. Our bureaus are located in Washington, D.C., and Rome. We have sister language agencies in Kenya, Germany, Peru, Brazil, and Italy. You can contact us at contactnews@ewtn.com with questions.

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

I agree that EWTN will keep me informed about news, faith stories and how to best support their work. You will never receive e-mails from us that you do not want to receive. You can unsubscribe any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.

More news related to this article

Itinerary confirmed for Pope Leo XIVโ€™s trip to France: Paris, Lourdes, and Metz

โ€œWe are able to publicly confirm that Paris will welcome the Holy Father on Sept. 25 and 26

Pope Francis’ Message for the 2024 World Day of the Sick

The Vatican Press Office released Pope Francis's message for the 2024 World Day of the Sick, which will be celebrated on February 11th this year

Archbishop Mourad: John Paul II Award Recipient

On October 18th, in the presence of distinguished guests โ€” including cardinals, bishops, and ambassadors โ€” the second

Pope Francis meets with young cancer patients: โ€˜Jesus is always close to youโ€™

Pope Francis meets with young cancer patients from Poland at the Vatican on May 29, 2023.

The Unpublished Drawings of Saint Carlo Acutis

A new book co-authored by theologian Fr. Giovanni Emidio Palaia and Antonia Salzano Acutis, mother of Saint Carlo

Cardinal Grech – Updates on the Synod on Synodality in Rome

As we prepare for the first session of the Synod on synodality in Rome this October, the Secretary-General

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com