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Day one in Spain: Pope challenges youth to change history with love
Pope Leo XIV’s fourth international Apostolic Journey starts with missions given to the different groups he met today: to civil and religious authorities, set aside polarizing narratives; to those who care for the most vulnerable, truly see the dignity in others; and to the young people, be authentically human.
By Kielce Gussie – Madrid
The roads of Spain’s capital city, Madrid, flooded with 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 6-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.
The King and Queen of Spain welcome the Pope to the Royal Palace of Madrid (@Vatican Media)
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 polarization 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.”
No one remains alone
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.”
“Alms are not the same as philanthropy,” Pope Leo said, quoting his predecessor (@Vatican Media)
“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 recognize their dignity.
Do not be afraid
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 afriad to consider a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life, or to other forms of service in the Church.”
The Pope signed a cross from the young people of Madrid after answering their questions (@Vatican Media)
In response to another question, the Pope encouraged the young people to find time for silence, in order to recognize God’s voice. In that silence, he noted, we “come to understand that ideologies pass away, while truth remains.”
That search for islence nad 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.
The prayer vigil closed with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction (@Vatican Media)
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.”
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