Pope Leo XIV calls for a shared Iberian memory during Spain visit

Pope Leo XIV visited Spain and addressed audiences in the Iberian Peninsula, urging people to remember the region’s multicultural past. He highlighted the historical coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews in cities such as Córdoba and Toledo, emphasizing that the legacy of translation and exchange shaped the peninsula’s culture. The pontiff warned against modern “amnesia” that fuels xenophobia and exclusion, linking past expulsions and cultural loss to current debates on migration.

Both opinion pieces stress that the Pope’s message seeks to confront a selective historical narrative and to promote dialogue across religious and cultural lines, reminding listeners that the Iberian identity was forged through a plurality of traditions rather than a single‑sided story.