Over 1 Million Join Pope Leo at Madrid Mass
More than 1 million people gathered in Madrid, Spain for an outdoor Mass. Pope Leo led the service at Plaza de Cibeles on Sunday.
Organisers and the Vatican said about 1.2 million people attended. The Mass is likely the largest event of his Spain trip.
A vigil the evening before drew about 600,000 young people. The Mass fell on the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi.
It featured a procession along flower-petal carpets. This is a centuries-old Spanish tradition.
Pope Leo is on a five-day trip around Spain. He is meeting vulnerable people including migrants and the homeless.
At the Mass he urged world leaders to stop dividing voters. He also asked them to respect every human being.
He called for a renewal of Catholic faith. He told Spaniards not to see religion as a museum of the past.
This is his first papal visit to Spain in 15 years. It is also his first visit to a European Union country outside Italy.
Key Terms 3
- Plaza de Cibeles A famous public square in the centre of Madrid, Spain.
- Corpus Christi A Catholic feast day celebrating a key belief about holy bread and wine.
- Apostolic visit An official trip made by the Pope to a country.