At largest event of pontificate, Pope Leo prods Catholics beyond a 'comfortable, private faith'

Vatican

Pope Leo XIV brought bustling Madrid to a halt Sunday, drawing 1.2 million people — the largest crowd he has encountered yet in his 13-month pontificate — for his first public Mass in Spain and a Eucharistic procession through the Spanish capital.

Pope Leo XIV holds a personalized Mexican soccer jersey given to him by Vatican journalist Valentina Alazraki, from Mexico, June 6, on the flight from Rome to Madrid at the start of his visit to Spain. Leo said he hoped the World Cup, which starts June 11, would be a source of unity. (Vatican press pool)
Vatican

Talking sports with Pope Leo at 35,000 feet

Justin McLellan
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, now president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, share a light moment during a break June 16, 2023, at the bishops' spring plenary assembly in Orlando, Florida. The conference's 2026 spring assembly will be held in Orlando June 10-12, with public sessions scheduled for June 10 and 11. (OSV News/Bob Roller)
Opinion

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The Latest

'Be human as Christ is,' Pope Leo XIV tells half a million youth in Madrid

Ines San Martin
Vatican News

Meet the pilot who will fly Pope Leo XIV to Barcelona

Ines San Martin, OSV News

Pope Leo arrives in Spain pushing back on polarization amid rising far-right

Justin McLellan

Editors' Choice

Pope Leo XIV disembarks the papal plane as he arrives at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas International Airport in Madrid June 6, 2026, to begin his apostolic journey. Leo's June 6-12 visit is the first papal visit to the country since Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Madrid for World Youth Day in 2011. (OSV News/Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)

In Focus

Pope Leo arrives in Spain pushing back on polarization amid rising far-right

"The temptation to gain popularity by fanning the flames of polarization seems to have grown rather than diminished, and human dignity continues to be violated," the pontiff said.

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