Pope Leo XIV. Appeals for Diplomacy in the Spanish Parliament and Warns Against Rearmament

The 70-year-old American, who, following his election in May 2025, became the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, used the platform in Madrid to deliver a fundamental diagnosis of the state of the world. The world finds itself in a "profound spiritual and cultural crisis" that manifests itself in violence, polarization, and mutual distrust, Leo said. It is "concerning that in various parts of the world, including Europe, rearmament is once again being presented as an almost inevitable response to the instability of the international situation," the Pope said on the third day of his visit to Spain.

Diplomacy Instead of Weapons

The Pope clearly turned against the notion that security can be achieved through weapons. True security arises from justice, dialogue, respect for international law, and a policy that places the well-being of people above the interests of war, said the 70-year-old American. The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics therefore called for greater orientation toward diplomacy and international law. With this position, Leo explicitly sets himself against the course of the US government under President Donald Trump, who has been pursuing an aggressive rearmament policy for months.

In addition to the issue of armaments, the Pope addressed the "tragic migration crisis." Leo also addressed the "tragic migration crisis." He called for policies that combat the root causes of flight and create safe and legal pathways for access. In doing so, he positioned himself close to the line of the Spanish government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who pursues a liberal migration policy that stands in contrast to Trump's migration and refugee policy and aligns with the Pope's advocacy for refugees.

Migration and Artificial Intelligence

With reference to his recently published encyclical "Magnifica humanitas," Leo emphasized that technological development is never neutral. It takes on "the features of those who conceive it, finance it, regulate it, and use it." In the context of the military use of artificial intelligence, he drew a clear red line: decisions about life and death must never be left to automated systems.

Already on Monday morning, the Pope had met with Sánchez at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid. Pope Leo XIV. met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday morning at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid. It was the second meeting between the two within a short period of time: Leo XIV. and Sánchez had already met at the end of May at the Vatican. Both the Pope and Sánchez are critics of the Iran war and have been repeatedly attacked by US President Donald Trump for this position. The meeting took place against the backdrop of a severe political crisis in Spain, triggered by a series of corruption scandals. Sánchez pursues a liberal course on migration policy, contrasting with Trump's migration and refugee policy and aligning with the Pope's advocacy for refugees.

Meeting with Sánchez and Reception by the Royal House

Sánchez is a self-declared atheist and a member of the Socialist party. Pedro Sánchez is a self-declared atheist and a member of the Socialist party. Despite the differences between the Catholic Church and the left-wing Spanish government on issues such as abortion, homosexual rights, and feminism, he demonstratively sought the encounter with the head of the Church. There are significant differences between the Catholic Church and Spain's left-wing government on issues including abortion, homosexual rights and feminism. The international attention generated by the papal visit is also being leveraged by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo: The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said the international media attention from the papal visit is an opportunity to increase pressure on Spain and the EU to strengthen migrant rescue, reception and distribution.

Over the previous weekend, Leo and Sánchez had already encountered each other indirectly: On Saturday and Sunday, the Pope had been received in Madrid by King Felipe VI. and Queen Letizia. The Pope was received in Madrid over the weekend by King Felipe VI. and Queen Letizia. At a "youth vigil" in Madrid, approximately 500,000 participants gathered according to the Vatican, and a Mass with a Corpus Christi procession drew 1.2 million faithful. The Pope held a 'youth vigil' in Madrid with approximately 500,000 participants and a Mass with a Corpus Christi procession attended by 1.2 million faithful.

Program: Barcelona and the Canary Islands

Before Leo XIV. was elected Pope in May 2025, he spent more than 25 years in Peru as a missionary and bishop and speaks excellent Spanish. Before his election as Pope, Leo XIV. spent more than 25 years in Peru as a missionary and bishop and speaks excellent Spanish. This is the Pope's first visit to a major European country outside Italy. This is the Pope's first visit to a major European country outside Italy.

For Wednesday, a memorial Mass is planned in Barcelona on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) at the Sagrada Família, at which Leo will bless the world's tallest church tower. On Wednesday the Pope will celebrate a memorial Mass at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) and will bless the world's tallest church tower. Thereafter, only 24 hours on the Canary Islands are scheduled: visits to Gran Canaria on 11 June and a few hours on Tenerife the following day. The Pope will spend only 24 hours on the Canary Islands, visiting Gran Canaria on June 11 and Tenerife for only a few hours the following day.

Precarious Situation in the Canaries

The situation in the Canaries is precarious: With 5,000 minors, reception capacities have been nearly tripled. Only after lengthy political negotiations did regional governments on the Spanish mainland agree to take in several hundred minor migrants from the Canary Islands, as they are legally obligated to do. After lengthy political negotiations, regional governments on the Spanish mainland agreed to take in several hundred minor migrants from the Canary Islands, as they are legally obligated to do.

Leo's position on migration stands in sharp contrast to Trump's policy. The Pope sharply criticized Trump for the persecution and deportation of possibly illegally immigrated people, drawing the US President's anger. His sharp criticism of the persecution and deportation of possibly illegally immigrated persons had angered the US President. With these remarks, the Pope once again commented on one of the most contested areas of US domestic policy.

Overall, Leo XIV. combined the major themes of his pontificate in his parliamentary address: peace through diplomacy rather than rearmament, a humanitarian migration policy, and a responsible approach to new technologies. Three days after his arrival in Madrid, the Pontiff has thus left a lasting mark on political debate in Spain and beyond – and has positioned himself as a global moral actor who takes uncomfortable positions in the face of the powerful of this world.