Madrid.- Pope Leo XIV toured the center of Madrid in the popemobile on the first journey he will make with this vehicle through the Spanish capital after the welcome ceremony offered to him by the King and Queen.
The pontiff’s first trip through the Spanish capital has covered the distance that separates the Royal Palace, in the heart of the city, from the also central Plaza de Colón, where Leo XIV left the popemobile to continue the journey in a closed vehicle to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he will stay during his time in Madrid.
In total, Leo XIV will make six tours in the popemobile through the streets of Madrid, a city he will leave on Wednesday the 9th to travel to Barcelona and then to the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), where he will stay until the 12th.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, together with Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, welcomed the Pope with military honors at the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace of Madrid, the first stop on Leo XIV’s agenda during his visit to Spain.
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After this first act outside, the pope held a private meeting with the royal family; afterwards, he greeted the Spanish authorities in the Throne Room of the Palace and, once in the Hall of Columns, King Felipe VI delivered a speech and Leo XIV had his first words.
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Shortly after 1:30 p.m. (11:30 GMT) and before continuing with the events scheduled for this afternoon, the pontiff left the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace aboard the popemobile, with the royal family bidding him farewell as the bells of the Almudena Cathedral rang out.
