The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has held an audience with Pope Leo XIV, in which he reiterated that Christian humanism constitutes one of the foundations of the Popular Party's political project. During the meeting, he presented him with a t-shirt signed by tennis player Rafa Nadal, "a benchmark of the Spain that never gives up in the face of adversity" and the book 'España sagrada: tomo XX' dedicated to the history of Compostela, the city where the Apostle Saint James rests, according to the party.
The meeting took place this afternoon at the Apostolic Nunciature. There, Feijóo thanked the Pontiff for making time "for the leading party in Spain," as he later wrote in a message on 'X' reported by Europa Press.
"Pope Leo XIV reminds us that a truly free society is not built against its roots, but from them. And Spain, like the rest of Europe, cannot be understood without its Christian roots," Feijóo stated, going on to emphasize that for this reason the PP "will always have the principles of Christian humanism as one of its pillars."
The leader of the opposition added that, following the Pope's recommendation, the PP raises its gaze "to look to the future with hope, defend the solidity" of its convictions, and "continue building a more just society together."
Feijóo praises Leo XIV as a "moral beacon"
According to PP sources, Feijóo conveyed his party's gratitude to the Pontiff for this visit to Spain. He pointed out that "these are days of great excitement for a very important part of our society, and at the PP we share that joy," also highlighting the "historic response" of the Spanish people in the events held these days.
During the audience, Feijóo championed the figure of Leo XIV as a "moral beacon" in a context of uncertainty and appealed to Catholic tradition as the basis on which to continue building a more just, free, and humane society, according to the 'popular' narrative.
"Spain, like the rest of Europe, cannot be understood without its Christian roots," Feijóo reiterated, emphasizing that the PP does not intend to renounce this legacy, but rather to defend it, because "a truly free society is not built against its roots, but from them."
On this note, he has insisted that Christian humanism is one of the pillars of the People's Party project. "For us it is not something circumstantial but a basic principle that has always inspired us," he stated, emphasizing to the Pope that the protection of human dignity, life, family, and freedom are non-negotiable commitments for the Popular Party in the exercise of their political responsibilities, according to the same sources.
"Exciting the contribution of the School of Salamanca"
Feijóo also expressed his gratitude for the explicit recognition that the Pontiff made in Congress of Spain's contribution to universal thought. "It was exciting to recall, from the Pope's own lips, the contribution of the School of Salamanca to universal thought and to the happy idea of setting limits to power," he highlighted.
The PP leader assured that this visit will be etched in his memory and, therefore, he wanted to accompany that memory with two symbols of what Spain represents. Firstly, he presented the Pope—a great tennis fan—with a signed shirt from Rafa Nadal, "a benchmark of the Spain that never gives up in the face of adversity."
Furthermore, as the PP specified, he sent him the book "España sagrada: tomo XX," focused on Compostelan History, the city where the Apostle Santiago rests, as a sample of the millennial nation that Spain is.
Audience after the Pope's speech in Congress
The meeting at the Nunciature took place a few hours after the Pontiff's applauded speech in the Congress of Deputies, in which he censured the "permanent disqualification of the adversary" and defended "a just delimitation of public power." Likewise, Leo XIV urged the deputies to "disarm language" because "firmness does not require contempt; disagreement does not entail humiliation."
At the end of the session in the Lower House, Feijóo told the media that he shares "from A to Z" the "historic" speech that the Pontiff addressed to the parliamentarians, highlighting his references to the "strengthening of institutions" and that "there are no institutions without convictions."
"In our country we have a deficit of respect for institutions and a much greater deficit of respect for convictions," stated Feijóo, who described that "serene, solid, and hopeful" message as "historic" and also encouraged deputies to "disarm language" because "firmness does not require contempt; disagreement does not entail humiliation."
This Monday, Pope Leo XIV also met with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, before his speech in Congress. Later in the afternoon, he had another meeting with the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.