Schedule for Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Spain Released

Vatican, May 7, 2026: A month before Pope Leo XIV’s departure for Spain, the Holy See Press Office has released the full schedule for the journey, which will take him to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, where he will also bless the tallest tower of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.

The Holy See Press Office on Wednesday confirmed the schedule for the Pope’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to Spain, which will include twelve speeches, four Masses, and around ten meetings with political, ecclesial, and civic leaders.

The journey will have three main stops: Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Pope Leo XIV will arrive in the Spanish capital on June 6, where he will be welcomed by King Felipe VI at the Royal Palace. He will then meet government authorities, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps. In the evening, he will lead a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in central Madrid.

The following day, on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope will celebrate Mass at Plaza de Cibeles, meet privately with members of the Order of Saint Augustine, and later participate in a gathering with representatives from culture, the arts, business, and sport at Madrid’s Movistar Arena.

On Monday, June 8, the Pope will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in the morning before addressing members of parliament at the Congress of Deputies. He will then meet bishops at the headquarters of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference and later join the local diocesan community at the Bernabéu Stadium.

Inauguration of the Sagrada Familia

The Pope will travel to Barcelona on June 9 for one of the key moments of the journey: the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, part of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.

The tower, the tallest in the basilica, crowns the landmark church that was consecrated 16 years ago by Pope Benedict XVI. Often described as a “Bible in stone,” the basilica was designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, whose legacy is being commemorated this year on the centenary of his death.

Migration and the Canary Islands

Alongside liturgical celebrations and official ceremonies, the Pope will once again draw attention to marginalised communities. In Madrid, he will visit a homeless shelter, while in Barcelona, he will visit a prison facility. During the final leg of the journey, migration will take centre stage.

On June 11, the Pope will travel to the Canary Islands, volcanic islands off the north-west coast of Africa that serve as a major maritime entry point for migrants heading to Europe. In both Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, he will celebrate Mass and encourage those working on the front lines of migrant reception and assistance.

Fifteen years after Pope Benedict XVI’s visit, Pope Leo XIV is being eagerly awaited by the Church in Spain. When the journey was first announced in late February, the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Luis Argüello, expressed the bishops’ joy in a videomessage and invited the faithful to “open their ears and hearts” to welcome the Pope. Leo XIV’s visit, he said, is meant “to confirm the brothers and sisters in the faith of the Church, which then becomes hope and charity in the concrete life of our communities.”

Courtesy: Vatican News