HOW POPE LEO 7-DAY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO SPAIN KICKS OFF, YOUTH ASKED TO CHANGE HISTORY WITH LOVE,
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
Pope Leo kicks off Apostolic Journey to Spain
Pope Leo XIV lands in Madrid on Saturday morning, officially marking the start of his Apostolic Journey to the European nation of Spain, which will see him visit the Spanish capital, as well as Barcelona and the Canary Islands. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The ITA Airways plane carrying Pope Leo XIV and journalists that departed from Rome's Fiumicino International Airport at 8:13 AM on Saturday morning landed at Madrid–Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport at 10:12 AM, marking the start of his Apostolic Journey to Spain: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Day one in Spain: Pope challenges youth to change history with love
Pope Leo XIV’s fourth international Apostolic Journey starts with missions given to the different groups he met today: to civil and religious authorities, set aside polarizing narratives; to those who care for the most vulnerable, truly see the dignity in others; and to the young people, be authentically human. By Kielce Gussie – Madrid
The roads of Spain’s capital city, Madrid, flooded with pilgrims, tourists, and simply curious passersby in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV as he rode by after arriving at the airport.
The first day of his 6-day trip to Spain began with a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, where the Pope was welcomed by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters. In their speeches, both the monarch and pontiff touched on the long Catholic tradition that runs throughout Spain’s two thousand year-long history.
Pope Leo appealed to everyone “to set aside the divisive and polarizing narratives of your societal reality and history, so as to overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity.”
In the midst of growing polarization and diminishing protection of human rights, he argued that we need to transcend this with “men and women who are faithful to the truth have been driven to advance from one room to another until justice and peace embrace in their conscience.”
No one remains alone
The protection of human dignity and the care for the most vulnerable continued in the Pope’s next stop: the Diocese of Madrid Caritas social project Cedia 24 Horas. There, the Pope stressed how everyone is welcome because “anyone who is in Madrid is from Madrid.”
“In this home, no one remains alone,” he said. Yet, he warned against believing that almsgiving is the same as philanthropy. There must be a personal encounter. He recalled Pope Francis’ teaching and asked if people truly look into the eyes of the people they are serving and recognize their dignity.
Do not be afraid
To close the day, Pope Leo travelled to the Plaza de Lima to meet with the young people of the city at a prayer vigil organized by the youth of Madrid.
After a musical performance, a small group of young people greeted him and asked questions related to the challenges they face in today’s world. One of the questions reflected on saints that inspired Pope Leo. Here, he turned to St. John Chrysostom and challenged the more than half a million young people to “never be afraId to consider a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life, or to other forms of service in the Church.”
In response to another question, the Pope encouraged the young people to find time for silence, in order to recognize God’s voice. In that silence, he noted, we “come to understand that ideologies pass away, while truth remains.”
That search for islence nad truth is not something to be done alone. “It is important to remember that no one believes in Jesus alone,” the Pope stressed, “Look around at how many of you are here!” On this journey together, he urged the young people to be “a spark of a new humanity” in the midst of violence and war, indifference and conformity.
Pope Leo closed with a mission: be truly human. Be people of flesh and blood rather than appearances. He called all young people to be missionaries of the Gospel in this modern world, remembering that the Catholic faith is life fulfilled through charity.
“This, dear young people, is the virtue that changes history more than any other. You can change history. Do it through love.”
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Pope calls on Spanish youth to "be the sparks of a new humanity"
Meeting with young Spaniards for a prayer vigil in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement and hope. In his question and answer dialogue with the youth representatives, he called on them to be missionaries of the Gospel in order to change history for a better world. by Vatican News
The final event of Pope Leo XIV's first day in Spain took place at Madrid's Plaza de Lima where he led a youth prayer vigil. Over six hundred thousand lined the main avenue leading to the square and the surrounding streets to participate in the celebration which consisted of youth representatives asking the Pope questions about faith, testimony and life in the modern age, with the Pope answering each question. The prayer vigil with Eucharistic adoration marked the final celebration and event on the Pope's very busy Saturday agenda of his week-long visit to the nation.
After introductory words from Madrid's Metropolitan Archbishop, Cardinal José Cobo Cano, who spoke about the challenges facing today's youth, the Pope heard the questions put forward to him by the youth. In response to a question about people who inspired his faith, the Pope cited Saint John Chrysostom, admired for combining truth with integrity; Thomas of Villanueva, whose charity strengthened him during difficult times; and Turibius of Mogrovejo, known for defending justice and serving the people. Drawing on his own years as a missionary in Peru, the Pope recalled how encounters with communities facing hardship deepened his faith and transformed him through the Gospel.
Addressing questions from young participants, he encouraged them to seek God's voice through prayer and silence, remain committed to truth, and recognize that both religious life and marriage are genuine vocations. He stressed that authentic Christian witness begins with personal coherence and humility, reminding educators and leaders that everyone remains a disciple before becoming a teacher.
Read the full text HERE: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/...
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A day for the youth of Madrid
A common thread throughout Pope Leo’s first day in Madrid, Spain, is the presence of young people, from volunteers at a reception center for the homeless to participants in the prayer vigil in the evening. By Kielce Gussie – Madrid, Spain
The first day of Pope Leo’s visit to Madrid is one full of young people: from his visit to the social project—part of Caritas Madrid—Cedia 24 Horas where young people work as volunteers to the prayer vigil was organized by, led by, and dedicated to the youth of the city.
An enriching experience
The social project, Cedia 24 Horas, is one of Cáritas Madrid's longest-running projects. Founded in 1977, it served as a coffee delivery van for homeless people. Over the last 49 years, the organization has developed and adapted to the growing needs of the people around them. It has become “a first-response project” for “pure and simple exclusion.”
As the number of people in need of support grows—about 2,500 people received aid last year—it reveals a landscape marked by increasing difficulties in accessing stable housing.
The work of Cedia 24 Horas is made possible through their volunteers.
Meet Clara Wiek, a volunteer at the center in Madrid. She explains that she enjoys her time working there because of how much she can learn through the people she meets in her work. “It’s an exchange of language and of culture” at the center.
Every day, Clara says she is impressed by people’s stories. “It touched me to hear what they are living through and how they keep going, how they are reaching for their dreams, how they are still believing, still having hope in finding what they are looking for,” Clara shares.
Working at Cedia 24 Horas can include serving food, working in the garden, or just spending time with the people being cared for. More than 20 professionals, including social workers and psychologists, are present at the center to offer support and aid.
How the workers serve has also had an impact on Clara as a young adult. “It touches me to see how the social workers here are helping them to approach their dreams and to fulfill what they are searching here.”
Overall, she stresses her experience at Cedia 24 Horas has been “a very enriching experience.”
Part of the community
Another group of young people in Madrid also have a special connection to a stop on Pope Leo’s itinerary: the prayer vigil with at the Plaza de Lima. The Madrid Youth Delegation is made of young adults active in their parishes and religious movements, and in Marina Pinto’s words, they’re a representation of the different territories of Madrid—"north and south, with all the differences.”
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Pope mourns death of Mozambican Bishop Citora Afonso
Pope Leo XIV’s sorrow over the “serious act of violence” that claimed the life of the Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of Beira, who was shot dead in his residence, is conveyed on the Holy See Press Office Telegram channel. Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV “learned with sorrow of the serious act of violence” that resulted in the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso, Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of Beira, in Mozambique. The news was communicated through the Holy See Press Office’s Telegram channel.
The Pope, the statement continues, “joins in prayer with the people of the dioceses and of Mozambique in this time of bewilderment, asking the Lord to grant them consolation, to keep every man and woman in His love, and to stay the hand of the violent.”
Investigation underway
Bishop Citora Afonso was found dead on the morning of 6 June at his episcopal residence in Quelimane, having been fatally shot in the chest.
According to the Fides News Agency, the National Criminal Investigation Service has opened an investigation. At present, no confirmed details have been released regarding the circumstances of the killing or the identity of those responsible.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Cardinal Parolin: Pope in Spain to foster communion and encounter
The Cardinal Secretary of State talks to Vatican News about Pope Leo XIV’s fourth Apostolic Journey, explaining that as Pastor of the Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of good will, inviting everyone to walk together toward a common destination. By Massimiliano Menichetti
Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Spain for his fourth international journey, taking him to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin explains its significance to Vatican News.
Your Eminence, what is the principal message that the Holy Father wishes to bring to Spain during his fourth international Apostolic Journey?
The logo of the Apostolic Journey to Spain—an open circle formed by human figures united with one another and oriented upwards—already reveals the Holy Father’s intention. As the Pastor of the Catholic Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of goodwill. With everyone, he seeks to encourage, promote and strengthen, ever more deeply, communion and encounter. This unfolds in a twofold movement: within the Church and within society.
It is not simply a matter of being together, but of walking together toward a common destination. We should also emphasise the unique gift that the Church longs to offer humanity: the invitation to welcome the answers that Jesus Christ gives to the profound questions every human being asks about the meaning of life, death and suffering. Christ offers us the possibility of attaining that fullness of humanity which we Christians call eternal life. This, in turn, becomes the source of the hope and joy with which the Holy Father seeks to serve humanity and encourage Christians.
Pope Leo XIV will meet with the Spanish Parliament. What are the Holy See’s diplomatic priorities today in its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe?
Lawmakers should always take as their fundamental point of reference the dignity of the human person and the common good when drafting legislation and shaping the kind of society they wish to build. The Mediterranean region, with its millennial tradition of culture, art and values, also represents an important point of reference for Christianity.
In its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe, the Holy See supports a compassionate and coordinated approach to migration, emphasising the inherent dignity of every migrant. Its position is grounded in four fundamental principles: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.
As for demographic trends, the northern shore of the Mediterranean, unlike the southern shore, is experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates. Addressing this crisis requires placing at the centre the fundamental dignity of every person and the role of the family within society.
The question of regional independence movements has also had repercussions within local ecclesial communities. How can the Church—and what message might the Pope bring during his visit to Spain—avoid polarisation and promote communion?
As Catholics, we believe that “the Church is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race” (Lumen Gentium, 1), and that the Pope, “as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity both of the bishops and of the faithful” (Lumen Gentium, 23). It therefore belongs to his very nature to promote the unity of the Church and unity within the Church.
As Father and Shepherd, he is concerned for the unity of his children and of his flock. At the same time, he promotes the mission entrusted to the whole Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, namely, to foster communion and unity in diversity among the peoples of the earth.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo XIV renews call for peace during flight to Spain
On board the flight to Madrid, Pope Leo XIV greets journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey, reiterating the need for dialogue in Ukraine, expressing closeness to Lebanon, and reflecting on abuse and the tragedy of war. By Silvina Perez – Aboard flight to Madrid
“Muy buenos días a todos!”
With these words, Pope Leo XIV greeted the more than eighty journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to Spain on the morning of 6 June.
The papal flight departed from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport shortly after 8:00 am, bound for Madrid, the first stop of a visit that will see the Pope meet ecclesial communities, civil authorities, and the faithful throughout the Iberian nation.
As is customary during international journeys, the Pope made his way to the rear of the aircraft shortly before landing to personally greet members of the media. The brief and cordial encounter was marked by handshakes, smiles, and several questions on current international affairs.
Alongside more serious topics, there was also a lighter moment when the Pope was asked, upon arriving in Spain, whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona. Smiling, Leo XIV replied, “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!” prompting laughter among those present.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope in Spain: 'I come to affirm and renew fidelity to the Gospel'
Addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV says he traveled to Spain to encourage faith in the Gospel among believers, and reiterates that religious freedom and freedom of conscience must be protected. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"I come among you to affirm, encourage and instill a renewed fidelity to the Gospel among believers, as well as a deeper reconciliation and collaboration among the various elements of this nation."
Pope Leo XIV expressed this when addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps on Saturday at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, where he is making a week-long Apostolic Journey to the European nation.
A great country that has welcomed the Gospel for nearly two millennia
In his address: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/... the Pope thanked Spain "for its faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism," which he said "is reflected in an active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples."
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Pope Leo’s Magnifica humanitas and the “rejected stones” of our time
Humanitarian development aid expert and diplomat, Dr. Daniel Solymári, reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica humanitas as a powerful social and synodal appeal to see the world from the perspective of the poor, refugees, war victims. He also highlights how the text calls to place justice, fraternity, and peace at the heart of public life. By Thaddeus Jones
Continuing our series of articles and interviews on Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical "Magnifica humanitas - On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence", Vatican News interviewed Dr. Daniel Solymári, one of Hungary’s top development aid experts and humanitarian diplomats, who has provided assistance to refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
He has also worked with migrants arriving in Europe, assisting with integration and resettlement, during his service as a director of field programs and diplomat of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and later ambassador of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Hungary Helps Program. In his work as an academic researcher, he has also published numerous books on Pope Francis' outreach to migrants and refugees.
In the interview, Dr. Solymári looks at Magnifica humanitas as a social encyclical and how it serves as a powerful social and synodal appeal to see the world from the perspective of the poor and excluded, the "rejected stones" of our time.
How do you read the Pope's latest encyclical in light of the Church's Social Doctrine that calls on us to always remember the "rejected stones" - the poor, migrants, refugees, the excluded?
One of the extraordinary features of Magnifica humanitas lies in the fact that it contemplates the age in which we live with remarkable concreteness, in all its painful reality, rather than reflecting upon it from some abstract, theoretical distance. In works of broad scope and ambition, there is always the risk of drifting far from reality and formulating truths that are often difficult to reconcile with lived human experience.
Magnifica humanitas – whose very title is profoundly moving as it recalls “humanity, created by God in all its grandeur” – addresses concrete and real problems within the actual conditions of our time and applies the principles of the Church’s social teaching to contemporary realities. In this way, the encyclical does not merely project an ideal world onto our horizon; it also discloses a new essence of solidarity. In its language and intellectual horizon, it draws extensively on Pope Francis. It is no coincidence that, throughout the encyclical, Pope Francis is referred to and quoted numerous times. The expression “rejected stones” is an example of this: it recalls and builds upon the concepts of the “throwaway culture” and “excluded people,” so often mentioned by his predecessor. Yet it also fills these terms with new meaning, in which both “rejected” and “stones” carry their own distinct significance.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium concludes in Rome
In an interview with Vatican News, Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe at the Australian Catholic University, the second Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium and looks ahead to its fruits for the future.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"There are various modes in which lay people, along with their sisters and brothers in consecrated and ordained life, can contribute to decision-making and decision-taking in the life of the Church, whilst acknowledging that in any Diocese, the Bishop is the decision-maker, and all of these entities operate in communion with the Bishop."
Professor Susan Pascoe, adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University (ACU), made this observation in an interview with Vatican News.
Professor Pascoe organized the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium, which concluded today at ACU’s Rome Campus. The event marked a milestone in a pioneering international research project on lay governance in the Catholic Church. The project is moving toward a wider consortium and, in its first year, explored the emergence and operation of lay-led canonical structures, specifically Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJPs), as expressions of synodal governance.
The 2026 symposium was opened by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod.
In his keynote address, Cardinal Grech reflected on the Church's call to communion, participation, and mission during the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality. Emphasizing that "Communion – not power – is the true measure of hierarchy," he invited participants to remain open to the Spirit's guidance and to embrace the Synod's vision of a Church marked by charity, co-responsibility, and hospitality.
The Symposium brought together theologians, canon lawyers, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to examine governance models in which Catholic lay people play key decision-making roles in ministries such as education, healthcare, aged care, and social services.
Second edition
Now in its second year, the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church project has identified more than 100 MPJPs or similar bodies across English-speaking countries. Research has highlighted both the canonical robustness and theological richness of these structures, which are seen as living expressions of a post-Vatican II Church committed to shared leadership.
During the interview, Professor Pascoe explained that the project derives from the Synod on Synodality and is now in its implementation phase.
"One of the strong themes that emerged during all phases of discernment of the Synod was the active and full participation of all of the people of God, all of the baptized. Our particular interest is the kind of formation that would be useful for those baptized who wish to more fully participate in the life of the Church," she said.
She noted that lay participation can take many forms, from pastoral councils and diocesan finance councils to governance roles in ministerial public juridic persons or associations of Christ’s faithful.
Symposium program and discussions
Reflecting on the events of the week, Professor Pascoe noted they began with Scripture, with biblical scholars guiding us through the Old and New Testament, exploring the human person in relationship with God.
"Through baptism," she said, "people gain the capacity to contribute to the life of the Church. We then examined historical examples of full lay participation in Church life and moved on to contemporary streams, such as the implementation of synodality."
Participants explored initiatives across Africa, parish programs, and diocesan-level implementations, analyzing factors that influence reception of synodality in different contexts.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Pope Leo kicks off Apostolic Journey to Spain
Pope Leo XIV lands in Madrid on Saturday morning, officially marking the start of his Apostolic Journey to the European nation of Spain, which will see him visit the Spanish capital, as well as Barcelona and the Canary Islands. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The ITA Airways plane carrying Pope Leo XIV and journalists that departed from Rome's Fiumicino International Airport at 8:13 AM on Saturday morning landed at Madrid–Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport at 10:12 AM, marking the start of his Apostolic Journey to Spain: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
********
Day one in Spain: Pope challenges youth to change history with love
Pope Leo XIV’s fourth international Apostolic Journey starts with missions given to the different groups he met today: to civil and religious authorities, set aside polarizing narratives; to those who care for the most vulnerable, truly see the dignity in others; and to the young people, be authentically human. By Kielce Gussie – Madrid
The roads of Spain’s capital city, Madrid, flooded with pilgrims, tourists, and simply curious passersby in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV as he rode by after arriving at the airport.
The first day of his 6-day trip to Spain began with a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, where the Pope was welcomed by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters. In their speeches, both the monarch and pontiff touched on the long Catholic tradition that runs throughout Spain’s two thousand year-long history.
Pope Leo appealed to everyone “to set aside the divisive and polarizing narratives of your societal reality and history, so as to overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity.”
In the midst of growing polarization and diminishing protection of human rights, he argued that we need to transcend this with “men and women who are faithful to the truth have been driven to advance from one room to another until justice and peace embrace in their conscience.”
No one remains alone
The protection of human dignity and the care for the most vulnerable continued in the Pope’s next stop: the Diocese of Madrid Caritas social project Cedia 24 Horas. There, the Pope stressed how everyone is welcome because “anyone who is in Madrid is from Madrid.”
“In this home, no one remains alone,” he said. Yet, he warned against believing that almsgiving is the same as philanthropy. There must be a personal encounter. He recalled Pope Francis’ teaching and asked if people truly look into the eyes of the people they are serving and recognize their dignity.
Do not be afraid
To close the day, Pope Leo travelled to the Plaza de Lima to meet with the young people of the city at a prayer vigil organized by the youth of Madrid.
After a musical performance, a small group of young people greeted him and asked questions related to the challenges they face in today’s world. One of the questions reflected on saints that inspired Pope Leo. Here, he turned to St. John Chrysostom and challenged the more than half a million young people to “never be afraId to consider a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life, or to other forms of service in the Church.”
In response to another question, the Pope encouraged the young people to find time for silence, in order to recognize God’s voice. In that silence, he noted, we “come to understand that ideologies pass away, while truth remains.”
That search for islence nad truth is not something to be done alone. “It is important to remember that no one believes in Jesus alone,” the Pope stressed, “Look around at how many of you are here!” On this journey together, he urged the young people to be “a spark of a new humanity” in the midst of violence and war, indifference and conformity.
Pope Leo closed with a mission: be truly human. Be people of flesh and blood rather than appearances. He called all young people to be missionaries of the Gospel in this modern world, remembering that the Catholic faith is life fulfilled through charity.
“This, dear young people, is the virtue that changes history more than any other. You can change history. Do it through love.”
********
Pope calls on Spanish youth to "be the sparks of a new humanity"
Meeting with young Spaniards for a prayer vigil in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement and hope. In his question and answer dialogue with the youth representatives, he called on them to be missionaries of the Gospel in order to change history for a better world. by Vatican News
The final event of Pope Leo XIV's first day in Spain took place at Madrid's Plaza de Lima where he led a youth prayer vigil. Over six hundred thousand lined the main avenue leading to the square and the surrounding streets to participate in the celebration which consisted of youth representatives asking the Pope questions about faith, testimony and life in the modern age, with the Pope answering each question. The prayer vigil with Eucharistic adoration marked the final celebration and event on the Pope's very busy Saturday agenda of his week-long visit to the nation.
After introductory words from Madrid's Metropolitan Archbishop, Cardinal José Cobo Cano, who spoke about the challenges facing today's youth, the Pope heard the questions put forward to him by the youth. In response to a question about people who inspired his faith, the Pope cited Saint John Chrysostom, admired for combining truth with integrity; Thomas of Villanueva, whose charity strengthened him during difficult times; and Turibius of Mogrovejo, known for defending justice and serving the people. Drawing on his own years as a missionary in Peru, the Pope recalled how encounters with communities facing hardship deepened his faith and transformed him through the Gospel.
Addressing questions from young participants, he encouraged them to seek God's voice through prayer and silence, remain committed to truth, and recognize that both religious life and marriage are genuine vocations. He stressed that authentic Christian witness begins with personal coherence and humility, reminding educators and leaders that everyone remains a disciple before becoming a teacher.
Read the full text HERE: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/...
********
A day for the youth of Madrid
A common thread throughout Pope Leo’s first day in Madrid, Spain, is the presence of young people, from volunteers at a reception center for the homeless to participants in the prayer vigil in the evening. By Kielce Gussie – Madrid, Spain
The first day of Pope Leo’s visit to Madrid is one full of young people: from his visit to the social project—part of Caritas Madrid—Cedia 24 Horas where young people work as volunteers to the prayer vigil was organized by, led by, and dedicated to the youth of the city.
An enriching experience
The social project, Cedia 24 Horas, is one of Cáritas Madrid's longest-running projects. Founded in 1977, it served as a coffee delivery van for homeless people. Over the last 49 years, the organization has developed and adapted to the growing needs of the people around them. It has become “a first-response project” for “pure and simple exclusion.”
As the number of people in need of support grows—about 2,500 people received aid last year—it reveals a landscape marked by increasing difficulties in accessing stable housing.
The work of Cedia 24 Horas is made possible through their volunteers.
Meet Clara Wiek, a volunteer at the center in Madrid. She explains that she enjoys her time working there because of how much she can learn through the people she meets in her work. “It’s an exchange of language and of culture” at the center.
Every day, Clara says she is impressed by people’s stories. “It touched me to hear what they are living through and how they keep going, how they are reaching for their dreams, how they are still believing, still having hope in finding what they are looking for,” Clara shares.
Working at Cedia 24 Horas can include serving food, working in the garden, or just spending time with the people being cared for. More than 20 professionals, including social workers and psychologists, are present at the center to offer support and aid.
How the workers serve has also had an impact on Clara as a young adult. “It touches me to see how the social workers here are helping them to approach their dreams and to fulfill what they are searching here.”
Overall, she stresses her experience at Cedia 24 Horas has been “a very enriching experience.”
Part of the community
Another group of young people in Madrid also have a special connection to a stop on Pope Leo’s itinerary: the prayer vigil with at the Plaza de Lima. The Madrid Youth Delegation is made of young adults active in their parishes and religious movements, and in Marina Pinto’s words, they’re a representation of the different territories of Madrid—"north and south, with all the differences.”
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
********
Pope mourns death of Mozambican Bishop Citora Afonso
Pope Leo XIV’s sorrow over the “serious act of violence” that claimed the life of the Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of Beira, who was shot dead in his residence, is conveyed on the Holy See Press Office Telegram channel. Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV “learned with sorrow of the serious act of violence” that resulted in the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso, Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of Beira, in Mozambique. The news was communicated through the Holy See Press Office’s Telegram channel.
The Pope, the statement continues, “joins in prayer with the people of the dioceses and of Mozambique in this time of bewilderment, asking the Lord to grant them consolation, to keep every man and woman in His love, and to stay the hand of the violent.”
Investigation underway
Bishop Citora Afonso was found dead on the morning of 6 June at his episcopal residence in Quelimane, having been fatally shot in the chest.
According to the Fides News Agency, the National Criminal Investigation Service has opened an investigation. At present, no confirmed details have been released regarding the circumstances of the killing or the identity of those responsible.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Cardinal Parolin: Pope in Spain to foster communion and encounter
The Cardinal Secretary of State talks to Vatican News about Pope Leo XIV’s fourth Apostolic Journey, explaining that as Pastor of the Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of good will, inviting everyone to walk together toward a common destination. By Massimiliano Menichetti
Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Spain for his fourth international journey, taking him to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin explains its significance to Vatican News.
Your Eminence, what is the principal message that the Holy Father wishes to bring to Spain during his fourth international Apostolic Journey?
The logo of the Apostolic Journey to Spain—an open circle formed by human figures united with one another and oriented upwards—already reveals the Holy Father’s intention. As the Pastor of the Catholic Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of goodwill. With everyone, he seeks to encourage, promote and strengthen, ever more deeply, communion and encounter. This unfolds in a twofold movement: within the Church and within society.
It is not simply a matter of being together, but of walking together toward a common destination. We should also emphasise the unique gift that the Church longs to offer humanity: the invitation to welcome the answers that Jesus Christ gives to the profound questions every human being asks about the meaning of life, death and suffering. Christ offers us the possibility of attaining that fullness of humanity which we Christians call eternal life. This, in turn, becomes the source of the hope and joy with which the Holy Father seeks to serve humanity and encourage Christians.
Pope Leo XIV will meet with the Spanish Parliament. What are the Holy See’s diplomatic priorities today in its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe?
Lawmakers should always take as their fundamental point of reference the dignity of the human person and the common good when drafting legislation and shaping the kind of society they wish to build. The Mediterranean region, with its millennial tradition of culture, art and values, also represents an important point of reference for Christianity.
In its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe, the Holy See supports a compassionate and coordinated approach to migration, emphasising the inherent dignity of every migrant. Its position is grounded in four fundamental principles: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.
As for demographic trends, the northern shore of the Mediterranean, unlike the southern shore, is experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates. Addressing this crisis requires placing at the centre the fundamental dignity of every person and the role of the family within society.
The question of regional independence movements has also had repercussions within local ecclesial communities. How can the Church—and what message might the Pope bring during his visit to Spain—avoid polarisation and promote communion?
As Catholics, we believe that “the Church is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race” (Lumen Gentium, 1), and that the Pope, “as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity both of the bishops and of the faithful” (Lumen Gentium, 23). It therefore belongs to his very nature to promote the unity of the Church and unity within the Church.
As Father and Shepherd, he is concerned for the unity of his children and of his flock. At the same time, he promotes the mission entrusted to the whole Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, namely, to foster communion and unity in diversity among the peoples of the earth.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo XIV renews call for peace during flight to Spain
On board the flight to Madrid, Pope Leo XIV greets journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey, reiterating the need for dialogue in Ukraine, expressing closeness to Lebanon, and reflecting on abuse and the tragedy of war. By Silvina Perez – Aboard flight to Madrid
“Muy buenos días a todos!”
With these words, Pope Leo XIV greeted the more than eighty journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to Spain on the morning of 6 June.
The papal flight departed from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport shortly after 8:00 am, bound for Madrid, the first stop of a visit that will see the Pope meet ecclesial communities, civil authorities, and the faithful throughout the Iberian nation.
As is customary during international journeys, the Pope made his way to the rear of the aircraft shortly before landing to personally greet members of the media. The brief and cordial encounter was marked by handshakes, smiles, and several questions on current international affairs.
Alongside more serious topics, there was also a lighter moment when the Pope was asked, upon arriving in Spain, whether he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona. Smiling, Leo XIV replied, “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!” prompting laughter among those present.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope in Spain: 'I come to affirm and renew fidelity to the Gospel'
Addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV says he traveled to Spain to encourage faith in the Gospel among believers, and reiterates that religious freedom and freedom of conscience must be protected. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"I come among you to affirm, encourage and instill a renewed fidelity to the Gospel among believers, as well as a deeper reconciliation and collaboration among the various elements of this nation."
Pope Leo XIV expressed this when addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps on Saturday at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, where he is making a week-long Apostolic Journey to the European nation.
A great country that has welcomed the Gospel for nearly two millennia
In his address: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/... the Pope thanked Spain "for its faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism," which he said "is reflected in an active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples."
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Pope Leo’s Magnifica humanitas and the “rejected stones” of our time
Humanitarian development aid expert and diplomat, Dr. Daniel Solymári, reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica humanitas as a powerful social and synodal appeal to see the world from the perspective of the poor, refugees, war victims. He also highlights how the text calls to place justice, fraternity, and peace at the heart of public life. By Thaddeus Jones
Continuing our series of articles and interviews on Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical "Magnifica humanitas - On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence", Vatican News interviewed Dr. Daniel Solymári, one of Hungary’s top development aid experts and humanitarian diplomats, who has provided assistance to refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
He has also worked with migrants arriving in Europe, assisting with integration and resettlement, during his service as a director of field programs and diplomat of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and later ambassador of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Hungary Helps Program. In his work as an academic researcher, he has also published numerous books on Pope Francis' outreach to migrants and refugees.
In the interview, Dr. Solymári looks at Magnifica humanitas as a social encyclical and how it serves as a powerful social and synodal appeal to see the world from the perspective of the poor and excluded, the "rejected stones" of our time.
How do you read the Pope's latest encyclical in light of the Church's Social Doctrine that calls on us to always remember the "rejected stones" - the poor, migrants, refugees, the excluded?
One of the extraordinary features of Magnifica humanitas lies in the fact that it contemplates the age in which we live with remarkable concreteness, in all its painful reality, rather than reflecting upon it from some abstract, theoretical distance. In works of broad scope and ambition, there is always the risk of drifting far from reality and formulating truths that are often difficult to reconcile with lived human experience.
Magnifica humanitas – whose very title is profoundly moving as it recalls “humanity, created by God in all its grandeur” – addresses concrete and real problems within the actual conditions of our time and applies the principles of the Church’s social teaching to contemporary realities. In this way, the encyclical does not merely project an ideal world onto our horizon; it also discloses a new essence of solidarity. In its language and intellectual horizon, it draws extensively on Pope Francis. It is no coincidence that, throughout the encyclical, Pope Francis is referred to and quoted numerous times. The expression “rejected stones” is an example of this: it recalls and builds upon the concepts of the “throwaway culture” and “excluded people,” so often mentioned by his predecessor. Yet it also fills these terms with new meaning, in which both “rejected” and “stones” carry their own distinct significance.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium concludes in Rome
In an interview with Vatican News, Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe at the Australian Catholic University, the second Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium and looks ahead to its fruits for the future.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"There are various modes in which lay people, along with their sisters and brothers in consecrated and ordained life, can contribute to decision-making and decision-taking in the life of the Church, whilst acknowledging that in any Diocese, the Bishop is the decision-maker, and all of these entities operate in communion with the Bishop."
Professor Susan Pascoe, adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University (ACU), made this observation in an interview with Vatican News.
Professor Pascoe organized the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium, which concluded today at ACU’s Rome Campus. The event marked a milestone in a pioneering international research project on lay governance in the Catholic Church. The project is moving toward a wider consortium and, in its first year, explored the emergence and operation of lay-led canonical structures, specifically Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJPs), as expressions of synodal governance.
The 2026 symposium was opened by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod.
In his keynote address, Cardinal Grech reflected on the Church's call to communion, participation, and mission during the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality. Emphasizing that "Communion – not power – is the true measure of hierarchy," he invited participants to remain open to the Spirit's guidance and to embrace the Synod's vision of a Church marked by charity, co-responsibility, and hospitality.
The Symposium brought together theologians, canon lawyers, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to examine governance models in which Catholic lay people play key decision-making roles in ministries such as education, healthcare, aged care, and social services.
Second edition
Now in its second year, the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church project has identified more than 100 MPJPs or similar bodies across English-speaking countries. Research has highlighted both the canonical robustness and theological richness of these structures, which are seen as living expressions of a post-Vatican II Church committed to shared leadership.
During the interview, Professor Pascoe explained that the project derives from the Synod on Synodality and is now in its implementation phase.
"One of the strong themes that emerged during all phases of discernment of the Synod was the active and full participation of all of the people of God, all of the baptized. Our particular interest is the kind of formation that would be useful for those baptized who wish to more fully participate in the life of the Church," she said.
She noted that lay participation can take many forms, from pastoral councils and diocesan finance councils to governance roles in ministerial public juridic persons or associations of Christ’s faithful.
Symposium program and discussions
Reflecting on the events of the week, Professor Pascoe noted they began with Scripture, with biblical scholars guiding us through the Old and New Testament, exploring the human person in relationship with God.
"Through baptism," she said, "people gain the capacity to contribute to the life of the Church. We then examined historical examples of full lay participation in Church life and moved on to contemporary streams, such as the implementation of synodality."
Participants explored initiatives across Africa, parish programs, and diocesan-level implementations, analyzing factors that influence reception of synodality in different contexts.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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