Over 1 million flood Madrid for Pope Leo XIV open-air mass

Madrid witnessed an extraordinary display of faith and unity on Sunday as more than a million people lined its streets to welcome Pope Leo XIV during one of the most anticipated events of his ongoing visit to Spain.

The Pope traveled through the Spanish capital in the popemobile, moving along the iconic Paseo de la Castellana toward Plaza de Cibeles, where he later presided over a massive open-air Mass. Cheers of “Long live the Pope” echoed across the city as crowds waved flags, sang hymns, and showered his route with flower petals.

According to Vatican officials and local organisers, around 1.2 million people gathered in and around the square, making it one of the largest public religious gatherings in recent years in Europe. The scale of the turnout reflected both the strong Catholic presence in Spain and the global interest surrounding the Pope’s pastoral visit.

During the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV addressed the crowd with a message focused on unity, compassion, and inclusion. Earlier in the day, he was presented with the key to the city by Madrid’s mayor and wrote in the guest book, expressing hope that the Spanish capital would remain “a welcoming and inclusive city guided by genuine human values.”

His week-long apostolic journey across Spain has already included meetings with migrants, homeless communities, and a large youth vigil attended by hundreds of thousands of young worshippers. The visit is being seen as one of the most socially focused trips of his papacy, with an emphasis on migration, dignity, and global solidarity.

Many attendees described the moment as deeply emotional. “I am delighted that he is praying for us migrants and for our safety,” said Andrea Margarita, a 72-year-old Peruvian woman who arrived in Spain only months ago and attended the event with her daughter from a wheelchair.

The Pope is expected to continue his engagements in the coming days, including visits to Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants who risked dangerous sea journeys from West Africa.

Following the Mass, Pope Leo XIV was scheduled to hold private meetings with members of his Augustinian order and later attend a cultural event in central Madrid featuring figures from sports, entertainment, and the arts.

As the sun set over Madrid, the city remained filled with pilgrims and visitors, marking what many are calling a historic moment of faith, unity, and global attention.