Banderas on Church Art
Antonio Banderas Tells the Pope the Church is History's Greatest Producer of Art
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Actor Antonio Banderas stood before Pope Leo XIV in Madrid on Sunday and made a bold claim: "The Church has been the greatest producer of art in the history of humanity." Banderas spoke at the 'Tejer Redes' (Weaving Networks) event at Movistar Arena, addressing roughly 12,000 people — and the Pope himself — for a carefully timed five minutes Diario Córdoba.
The appearance was the cultural highlight of Pope Leo XIV's first papal visit to Spain in 15 years — a trip that drew an estimated 1.8 million people across Madrid El Periódico. Banderas, born in Málaga, was chosen to represent the performing arts sector at an event designed to bridge the Catholic Church and a deeply secular Spanish society.
Banderas Confesses to Being Struck by the 'God Spell'
Banderas opened his speech with a personal confession. "I am here today confessing to have been a victim of the 'Godspell' — the spell of God," he told the arena La Opinión de Málaga. The reference was to the musical *Godspell*, which he produced at his Teatro del Soho in Málaga and performed for the Pope the night before at a youth prayer vigil in Plaza de Lima — attended by over 500,000 people.
Banderas argued that art must serve as "an alternative to violence" and a "tool for reflection." He also took aim at Artificial Intelligence, warning that today's era is "message-heavy but depth-light" and that AI must remain at the service of humanity — not the other way around El Periódico Extremadura.
Pope Leo XIV Urges 12,000 to 'Be Human' in Digital Age
Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pope, originally from Chicago — responded to the crowd with a direct message. He urged attendees to "be human — men and women of flesh and blood" and warned against "divisive narratives" tearing societies apart Levante EMV. His words echoed Banderas' concern about technology replacing human depth.
The 'Tejer Redes' event featured more than just speeches. Flamenco dancer Sara Baras performed a piece representing Spanish cultural identity. Union leader Pepe Álvarez and business chief Antonio Garamendi — rarely on the same side — both appeared on stage to talk about the "common good" LNE.
A Papal Visit 15 Years in the Making — and Hugely Expensive
No pope had visited Spain since Benedict XVI in 2011. In those 15 years, Spain passed major laws on euthanasia, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights — all points of tension with the Church. Leo XIV's visit is seen as a diplomatic reset La Opinión de Coruña. The Corpus Christi Mass at Plaza de Cibeles alone drew an estimated 1.1 million faithful earlier Sunday.
The seven-day apostolic journey costs an estimated €25 million — 80% funded by private donors and 20% by the state, mostly for security Diario de Mallorca. Madrid deployed 15,000 National Police and Civil Guard officers, described as the largest security operation in Spanish history. The visit is projected to generate €150 million in economic activity across Madrid, Barcelona, and Las Palmas.
Controversy Follows the Applause in Secular Spain
Not everyone welcomed the spectacle. Secular groups questioned the use of public spaces like Plaza de Cibeles and Movistar Arena for religious events, asking whether the state was truly neutral El Día. Some conservative Catholics also pushed back — uncomfortable with Banderas, a twice-divorced Hollywood star, serving as the public face of faith at a papal event.
The Pope next heads to Barcelona on June 9 to bless the tallest spire of the Sagrada Família. He then travels to the Canary Islands on June 11 to address the migration crisis — a visit expected to be far more politically charged than the artistic celebrations in Madrid Información.
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