Pope's Royal Departure
Pope Francis Departs Royal Palace in Popemobile Following Official Visit
Pope Leo XIV left Madrid's Royal Palace at 1:37 PM on Saturday, June 6, 2026, aboard the popemobile, beginning his first public procession through the streets of the Spanish capital. Thousands of pilgrims lined the route, waving Vatican and Spanish flags as the pontiff made his way toward Plaza de Colón, according to Servimedia.
The visit is the first by a pope to Spain in 15 years — since Benedict XVI's 2011 World Youth Day trip — and draws more than 2 million people expected across Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, according to El Periódico.
From Airport Arrival to Royal Palace Departure
The day began early. Pope Leo XIV's flight landed at Madrid-Barajas Airport at 10:16 AM — 14 minutes ahead of schedule. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met him on the tarmac, according to Levante-EMV.
At the Palacio Real, the Pope received a 21-gun salute and reviewed the Royal Guard. He then held a private meeting with the royal family before addressing authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in the Salón de Columnas. By 1:37 PM, he was in the popemobile and moving through the city center, according to Información.
Popemobile Route Through Madrid's City Center
The procession wound through some of Madrid's most iconic streets. From the Palacio Real, the motorcade passed through Plaza de España, up Calle Princesa, along Alberto Aguilera and Calle Carranza, ending at Plaza de Colón, according to Diario de Mallorca.
Madrid's mayor issued a formal proclamation urging citizens to show hospitality. An unprecedented security operation involving thousands of National Police, Civil Guard, and Municipal Police officers was deployed across the route, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
King Felipe Raises Clergy Abuse — A Tense Backdrop
Not everything was ceremonial. During his official speech at the Palacio Real, King Felipe VI praised the Church's social work but also called out "the pain caused by cases of abuse," demanding "clarity and firmness" in addressing it, according to La Opinión de Zamora.
Victim advocacy groups had mixed reactions. Some welcomed the public acknowledgment. Others said the "open wound" requires more than words. A new government-Church agreement on abuse compensation, signed in March 2026, is expected to be a key topic when the Pope meets Prime Minister Sánchez on Monday, June 8, according to Diario Córdoba.
Migration Crisis Looms Over Rest of the Trip
The Madrid arrival is just the start. The most politically charged stop comes on June 11-12, when Leo XIV visits Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. In 2025 alone, 1,172 migrants died or went missing on the sea route to Spain, according to LNE.
The President of the Canary Islands said the visit is "timely" to push the EU to reform its migration policies. The pope will also travel to Barcelona on June 9 to bless the Torre de Jesucristo at the Sagrada Família — which, upon completion, will make it the tallest church in the world. In total, Leo XIV will cover roughly 2,500 kilometers across Spain in six days, according to El Correo Gallego.
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