Pope calls for peace in Ukraine: The situation is getting worse and worse, a solution must be found

(Patria) - Pope Leo XIV yesterday, at the start of his trip to Spain, issued a call for peace and dialogue, praising the host country for its opposition to wars and its aid to migrants.

At a meeting with representatives of the state, civil society and foreign diplomats in Madrid, the Pope expressed regret that "the message of peace, in these times, unfortunately sounds naive to some and provocative to others."

His words could be interpreted by some as a reference to the dispute in May when US President Donald Trump angrily responded to the Pope's criticism of the war against Iran, according to the DPA news agency.

Pope Leo thanked Spain, whose left-wing government has also incurred Trump's wrath, for its "commitment to international law and multilateralism."

Instead of "divisive and polarizing" statements about the world, he said, we must move from "useless simplifications to a fruitful recognition of its complexity."

At the start of a six-day visit to Spain, Leo was welcomed by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and on the streets of Madrid he was greeted by numerous Spaniards as he rode in an open popemobile.

Last night, the Pope participated in a celebration with young people from all over Spain at Madrid's Plaza de Lima.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 people attended the prayer vigil, during which the faithful recited psalms, held Bible readings and read other spiritual texts.

While flying to Madrid, the Pope once again called for an end to Moscow's war against Ukraine.

- We really must insist on a cessation of violence. The situation is getting worse and worse. Four and a half years have already passed. A solution must be found - said the Pope, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

During the afternoon, Leo visited a shelter for the homeless where he heard the stories of migrants whom the state helped to settle when they first arrived in Madrid.

In stark contrast to many leading Western powers, and not just Trump's US, the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has opened a mass amnesty program, allowing an estimated 500,000 immigrants to apply for legal status.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend planned outdoor events during the Pope's tour, under the slogan "Lift up your eyes."

Further events include the blessing of the Jesus Tower at the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona on Wednesday, marking the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, and two meetings on the Canary Islands with migrants from Africa.

The Vatican also announced that the Pope will meet with victims of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions, in line with calls from victims' associations. Leo has described the abuse scandals as an "open wound" for the Catholic Church.

This is the first visit to a major European country outside Italy by the US-born Pope Leo, who has been at the helm of the Catholic Church since May last year.

The Catholic Church in Spain hopes the visit will encourage more people to return to the faith. While in the 1970s nearly 100 percent of Spaniards identified as Catholics, today that figure stands at just over half.

On the other hand, a 2025 study by Fundacion SM showed an increase in interest among young people in Catholicism in Spain, with 28.8 percent identifying as practicing Catholics in 2025 compared to 17.6 percent in 2020.