Plans are beginning to coalesce around a future journey of Pope Leo XIV to Spain — a development that carries both pastoral and cultural weight for a country that has not welcomed a pope in more than a decade.
On January 9, senior Spanish church leaders gathered at the Vatican for an initial planning meeting requested by the Pope himself. The conversation marked a concrete step toward a possible apostolic visit in the coming months, with June 2026 emerging in Spanish media as a tentative window.
The meeting brought together Cardinal José Cobo, Archbishop of Madrid; Cardinal Joan Josep Omella of Barcelona; Archbishop Luis Javier Argüello, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference; and Bishop José Mazuelos of the Canary Islands.
According to Cardinal Cobo, the goal was simple but significant: “to begin thinking and taking into account a visit of the Holy Father to Spain.”
A country waiting for a pope
Spain has been without a papal visit since Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Madrid in 2011 for World Youth Day 2011. Pope Francis never made the journey during his pontificate, despite repeated invitations and hopes that he might travel to sites significant to his spiritual father, St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits.
A visit by Leo XIV would be an encounter with a church navigating cultural change, migration pressures, and questions about identity in modern Europe.
Three cities — for now
According to the initial reports, only three destinations are currently under discussion: Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, but as the initial meeting was described by the cardinal as a “brainstorming session,” he noted that more stops could be added.
Cardinal Cobo described the trip as being of “medium length,” with flexibility still built into the outline. Vatican officials, including Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, have consulted local bishops on possible programs, with room for adjustments in the months ahead.
In Madrid, Leo XIV would be expected to meet civil authorities, including the royal family, underscoring the diplomatic dimension of the visit.
In Barcelona, the natural stop would be the Sagrada Família, the monumental basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí. Spanish outlets have speculated about a June 10 date, which would coincide with the centenary of Gaudí’s death, though no official confirmation has been given.
The Canary Islands and the migrant question
Perhaps the most telling proposed stop is the Canary Islands. Cardinal Cobo noted that this choice echoes a wish expressed by Pope Francis: to draw attention to Europe’s southern migration routes and the human stories unfolding there.
From the beginning of his ministry, Leo XIV has made clear that concern for migrants and border regions remains central to his vision.
Placing the Canary Islands on the itinerary would offer Leo a chance to emphasize a moral statement — reminding Europe that its frontiers are also places of encounter, suffering, and responsibility. And that all human beings share the same dignity.
Looking ahead
While Cardinal Cobo expressed confidence that the trip will take place in 2026, he emphasized that planning is only in the first stages. Dates remain open, and coordination with Spanish authorities will take time.
The Spain visit is also expected to follow another journey planned for Africa after Easter, potentially including Algeria, the land of St. Augustine.
If it happens, Leo XIV’s journey to Spain will signal how this pontificate intends to engage Europe: attentive to beauty and tradition, alert to social realities, and willing to speak to the margins as well as the centers of power.