Spain: Pope challenges young people to change history with love

Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

The roads of Spain's capital city, Madrid, were flooded with thousands of pilgrims, tourists, and simply curious passersby in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV as he rode by after arriving at the airport.

The first day of his six-day trip to Spain began with a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, where the Pope was welcomed by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters. In their speeches, both the monarch and pontiff touched on the long Catholic tradition that runs throughout Spain's two thousand year-long history.

Pope Leo appealed to everyone "to set aside the divisive and polarizing narratives of your societal reality and history, so as to overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity."

In the midst of growing polarisation and diminishing protection of human rights, he argued that we need to transcend this with "men and women who are faithful to the truth have been driven to advance from one room to another until justice and peace embrace in their conscience."

The protection of human dignity and the care for the most vulnerable continued in the Pope's next stop: the Diocese of Madrid Caritas social project Cedia 24 Horas. There, the Pope stressed how everyone is welcome because "anyone who is in Madrid is from Madrid."

"In this home, no one remains alone," he said. Yet, he warned against believing that almsgiving is the same as philanthropy. There must be a personal encounter. He recalled Pope Francis' teaching and asked if people truly look into the eyes of the people they are serving and recognise their dignity.

To close the day, Pope Leo travelled to the Plaza de Lima to meet with the young people of the city at a prayer vigil organized by the youth of Madrid.

After a musical performance, a small group of young people greeted him and asked questions related to the challenges they face in today's world. One of the questions reflected on saints that inspired Pope Leo. Here, he turned to St John Chrysostom and challenged the more than half a million young people to "never be afraid to consider a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life, or to other forms of service in the Church."

In response to another question, the Pope encouraged the young people to find time for silence, in order to recognise God's voice. In that silence, he noted, we "come to understand that ideologies pass away, while truth remains."

That search for silence and truth is not something to be done alone. "It is important to remember that no one believes in Jesus alone," the Pope stressed, "Look around at how many of you are here!" On this journey together, he urged the young people to be "a spark of a new humanity" in the midst of violence and war, indifference and conformity.

Pope Leo closed with a mission: be truly human. Be people of flesh and blood rather than appearances. He called all young people to be missionaries of the Gospel in this modern world, remembering that the Catholic faith is life fulfilled through charity.

"This, dear young people, is the virtue that changes history more than any other. You can change history. Do it through love."

More than 600,000 lined the main avenue leading to the square and the surrounding streets to participate in the celebration which consisted of youth representatives asking the Pope questions about faith, testimony and life in the modern age, with the Pope answering each question. The prayer vigil with Eucharistic adoration marked the final celebration and event on the Pope's very busy Saturday agenda of his week-long visit to the nation.

After introductory words from Madrid's Metropolitan Archbishop, Cardinal José Cobo Cano, who spoke about the challenges facing today's youth, the Pope heard the questions put forward to him by the youth. In response to a question about people who inspired his faith, the Pope cited Saint John Chrysostom, admired for combining truth with integrity; Thomas of Villanueva, whose charity strengthened him during difficult times; and Turibius of Mogrovejo, known for defending justice and serving the people. Drawing on his own years as a missionary in Peru, the Pope recalled how encounters with communities facing hardship deepened his faith and transformed him through the Gospel.

Addressing questions from young participants, he encouraged them to seek God's voice through prayer and silence, remain committed to truth, and recognise that both religious life and marriage are genuine vocations. He stressed that authentic Christian witness begins with personal coherence and humility, reminding educators and leaders that everyone remains a disciple before becoming a teacher.

The Pope underscored the importance of silence especially given how the modern world is marked by constant noise, consumerism, and self-interest. He described silence as the space where people can recognize God's voice, distinguish truth from illusion, and discover lasting meaning.

The Pope also spoke about living faithfully in contemporary society. Quoting the ancient Letter to Diognetus, he said Christians should be fully engaged in the modern world without becoming captive to passing fashions or ideologies. Faith, he argued, provides genuine freedom and hope beyond material success, pleasure, or power. And he emphasized how ideologies and trends pass away, while truth remains.

In conclusion, Pope Leo challenged his young listeners to become agents of positive change in society, including in the digital world. He urged them to communicate the values and beauty of the Gospel, combat indifference, violence, and falsehood, and become "the sparks of a new humanity." He encouraged them to be trustworthy, seek justice, and treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.

Finally the Pope called on young people to be authentically human by following the example of Christ. He described faith not simply as belief but as a way of life expressed through charity, which he called the virtue most capable of changing history and which can empower them to change the world for the better.

Read the full text of the Pope's dialogue with young people:

www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/giugno/documents/20260606-spagna-veglia-giovani.html

Watch the Prayer Vigil on the Vatican Media's Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-TFGlYw_ZM