Pope Leo XIV’s Spain Visit Stresses Peace, Migration Policy and Opposition to War

Pope Leo XIV concluded a high‑profile visit to Spain on 12 June, addressing the Spanish parliament and delivering a homily in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles. He reaffirmed support for multilateralism, called for the exclusive use of international law to settle disputes, and criticised the United States’ armed action in Iran as lacking a "just war" basis. The pontiff also urged respectful treatment of migrants, highlighting the need for real integration opportunities, and warned against turning the Mediterranean into a graveyard for refugees.

In his speeches, Leo emphasized the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, prompting reactions from both the governing Socialist Party and opposition groups such as the centre‑right Popular Party and the far‑right Vox. While his remarks received a loud applause, they satisfied no single political faction completely, underscoring his role as a moral compass in a polarized Spanish political landscape.