Pope Leo XIV celebrated a massive Corpus Christi Mass before more than 1.5 million people in central Madrid on June 7, urging Spaniards to ensure the country's deep Catholic traditions remain a living source of faith rather than a relic of the past.
The outdoor liturgy in Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles marked the first of four major public Masses during the Pope's apostolic visit to Spain and drew one of the largest crowds of his pontificate.
"Here is a mission for the Spain of today and tomorrow: that the religiosity that has animated this country for centuries not become a museum of the past to visit, but a school of faith from which to drink today as well,” Pope Leo said in his homily.
Spain's royal family attended the celebration, including King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida presented the Pope with the city's Gold Key before the Mass. Also present were regional and national officials, including Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Education Minister Milagros Tolón.
Pope Leo centered his homily on the Eucharist, describing Corpus Christi as a celebration that lies "at the heart" of both Spain's faith and history. He warned against reducing the feast to folklore or cultural tradition.
"This is not the survival of folklore or a simple aesthetic ornament," he said. "It is faith in the presence of the risen Lord, who is alive and continues to pass among us."
The Pope also linked Spain's long-standing Corpus Christi traditions to charitable service, noting that the solemnity has often been observed alongside the country's Day of Charity.
Addressing the traditional Eucharistic procession that followed the Mass, Pope Leo said it should not be viewed simply as carrying the Blessed Sacrament through the streets but as a call to personal conversion.
"It is not only a matter of bringing out the monstrance," he said, "but of allowing ourselves to be brought out of selfishness, indifference and a comfortable, private faith."
The celebration featured more than 150 bishops and cardinals, 1,600 priests and a choir and orchestra of more than 400 musicians. More than 2,100 ministers distributed Communion across the gathering.
Following Mass, Pope Leo led a Corpus Christi procession along Madrid's Calle de Alcalá, carrying the Blessed Sacrament through streets decorated with elaborate floral carpets made from more than 30,000 carnations. The floral carpets along the procession route were created by 24 master artisans from the northwestern Spanish town of Ponteareas, who coordinated the work of approximately 160 volunteers.
The procession concluded with a solemn Eucharistic blessing.
In closing his homily, Pope Leo urged the faithful to return to Christ and allow the Eucharist to transform both their lives and society.
"The Eucharistic grace transforms us," he said, "but it also makes us protagonists in the transformation of history and a sign of hope for those we encounter."