Pope Leo departs for Spain on June 6 for a week-long visit that marks his first trip to a European Union country outside Italy. The itinerary runs through June 12 and includes high-profile events in Barcelona, Madrid, Montserrat and the Canary Islands.
In Barcelona, the pope will take part in the inauguration of a new tower at the Sagrada Familia basilica. The schedule also features an unusual diplomatic milestone: Pope Leo will become the first pontiff to address the Spanish parliament during this trip.
The pontiff - the first American head of the Catholic Church - will devote time to migrant issues, meeting people who risked dangerous Atlantic crossings to reach Europe. The meeting with migrants and organisations that support them is planned for the final stop in the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the west coast of Africa.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican’s press office, said the plight of migrants is closely felt by the pope: "These are people, and their stories must touch us."
Bruni has also outlined broader themes expected to feature in the pope’s remarks. Pope Leo is scheduled to deliver more than 20 speeches during the trip and is likely to condemn ongoing wars and urge dialogue to counter rising political and social polarisation in global affairs.
Observers note the pope has taken a more forceful tone in recent months about the direction of global leadership. His Spanish-language background is a factor in this visit: having spent decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru before his election last May, Pope Leo will speak Spanish for most engagements.
At the same time, when he meets migrants on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the pope expects to use French because many of those he will meet have come from Francophone Africa.
The Spanish government led by Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez has implemented a broad amnesty programme that allows an estimated 500,000 immigrants to apply for legal status. The policy contrasts with the stance of several Western governments and follows public clashes between the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump, after the pope criticised Trump’s anti-immigration policies.
The humanitarian challenges are stark. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 3,000 people died in 2025 while attempting to reach the Canary Islands, often in makeshift dinghies.
Domestically, Sanchez has received international attention for his criticisms of former U.S. policies but is also facing pressure at home amid a series of corruption allegations targeting his party.
Upon arrival in Madrid on Saturday morning, Pope Leo will meet King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace, and address diplomats and civil leaders. Later that day he will meet young people in the square outside the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and visit a Catholic charity serving people experiencing homelessness.
Contextual note: The visit combines religious ceremonies, diplomatic engagements and direct outreach to migrants and vulnerable populations, with planned public addresses touching on war and social division.