Pope Leo XIV landed this Saturday at Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airport, marking the beginning of his apostolic journey through Spain. On the tarmac, he was received by Kings Felipe VI and Letizia, who officially welcomed him. After the initial greeting, the Pontiff also carried out the welcome protocol with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, as well as with other members of the Executive, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and authorities from different institutions, consolidating the institutional nature of his arrival.
Once these acts were completed, the entourage headed to the Royal Palace, where the official welcome ceremony will take place, which will serve as the starting point for the intense agenda of the visit, which will include multiple homilies, large masses, meetings with young people, and cultural and social activities.
The reception for Leo XIV combines the solemnity of the official protocol with the closeness that the Pontiff maintains with the citizens, and represents the first papal visit to Madrid since Benedict XVI in 2011. Over the next few days, the participation of hundreds of thousands of people is expected in various religious and social events, reinforcing the historical and symbolic dimension of this apostolic journey.