politics
Pope Leo urges Spaniards to to set aside "polarizing narratives" during first papal visit in 15 years
Updated on: June 6, 2026 / 3:40 PM EDT / AP
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain is the first papal visit in 15 years.
- The Pope urged Spaniards to set aside "polarizing narratives" and invest in educating young people about diversity.
- Leo's visit aims to signal a return of papal attention to Europe's Christian roots.
- He will address the Spanish Parliament, a rare event for a pontificate.
- Spain's Socialist-led government is facing political challenges, including corruption scandals and debates over migration policy.
- The Catholic Church in Spain is dealing with a credibility crisis stemming from clergy abuse revelations.
- Despite secularization, there are signs of renewed interest in spirituality, especially among young Spaniards.