Pope Leo XIV draws 1.2 million to Mass and challenges Europe to acknowledge its Christian roots
Pope Leo XIV arrives to preside over Mass marking the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
MADRID (AP) — Pope Leo XIV challenged Europe to acknowledge Christianity’s contributions to its cultural identity Sunday, as he presided over a Mass in Madrid attended by more than a million people and honored Spain’s centuries-old traditions of religious devotion and culture.
Leo celebrated Spain's Christian roots and culture with the huge morning Mass in downtown Madrid and an evening spectacle that featured flamenco dancers, classical guitar and a moving meditation by Spanish actor Antonio Banderas on art, faith and beauty.
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