Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remained “an open wound” as he began a trip to Spain that will include a meeting with victims.
The 70-year-old’s week-long state visit — the first by a pontiff to Spain since 2010 — kicked off at Madrid airport, where King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed him.
He is due to meet some victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, the Vatican said, with Leo telling reporters on the papal plane upon arrival that the issue was “still an open wound”.
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Some 200,000 minors are estimated to have suffered abuse in Spain since 1940, according to a 2023 report from Spain’s national ombudsman.
Sanchez’s government and the Catholic Church in Spain signed an agreement in March to compensate victims after years of reticence and opacity from the Church hierarchy.
A reception of pomp and ceremony was scheduled at Madrid’s royal palace on Saturday before a prayer vigil near Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium where 400,000 mostly young people are expected.
Leo told journalists on the plane he was “very pleased by the reports” that young people were increasingly interested in the Catholic Church.
“They realise there’s an emptiness, and a lack of a sense of meaning, and perhaps my visiting is helping to awaken even further something,” he said.
His arrival in Madrid coincides with a series of concerts by Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny, with some observers pointing to youth being torn between spirituality and music.
“I think many will see Bad Bunny. But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something,” Leo said of the conflicting loyalties.
Focus on migration
The pope also expressed concern about Ukraine as Russia’s invasion grinds through its fifth year.
“I am worried about Ukraine, every time the situation gets worse… It’s been four and a half years. We need to find a solution,” Leo said.
On Sunday, around a million people are set to attend a Mass in Madrid city centre.
During his trip, Leo will make a speech to the Spanish parliament and bless the new tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona — now the world’s tallest church.
In the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday, Leo will meet migrants and the organisations helping them and will be joined by Sanchez to honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.
The Canaries — Spanish islands off the coast of west Africa — have become the main entry point for irregular migrants into Spain after long and dangerous trips from Africa.
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration estimates 1,172 migrants died or went missing along the route in 2025 — a figure only slightly lower than the 1,215 people in 2024.
READ ALSO: Spain signs agreement with Catholic Church to compensate abuse victims
‘Polarised country’
In contrast with many of its European allies, Spain under Sanchez’s left-wing government has a relatively liberal immigration policy.
But the government is under pressure from the main conservative Popular Party and far-right, anti-immigration Vox, the third political force in the country.
Leo XIV “is arriving in a polarised country where different players could try to take advantage of the visit”, said Rafael Rubio, the Church’s spokesman for the Spanish visit.
“Ensuring that his message reaches everyone and speaks to everyone is a major challenge,” he said.
Some 15,000 members of the national police and Guardia Civil are being deployed for the visit, alongside local police forces.
Leo’s predecessor Francis largely overlooked many of Europe’s traditional bastions of Catholicism where, like Spain, religious observance has been falling rapidly.