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Pope Leo XIV Fills the Bernabéu in His Madrid Farewell

Thousands of faithful attended the Real Madrid stadium to hear the pontiff's speech, which also addressed social issues and controversies.

Generic image of a stadium full of people celebrating an event.
IA

Generic image of a stadium full of people celebrating an event.

Pope Leo XIV gathered around 70,000 people at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for his farewell from Madrid, in an event that combined music, testimonies, and a speech on unity and diversity.

The Santiago Bernabéu stadium transformed into a stage for faith as it hosted the visit of Pope Leo XIV. Approximately 70,000 people filled the stands to witness an event that, far from being sporting, focused on the pontiff's figure and his message. Artists such as David Bustamante and Íñigo Quintero offered prior performances, creating a festive atmosphere before the arrival of the highest representative of Catholics.
After listening to various attendee testimonies, from a neighbor who joined parish life to an immigrant family, Pope Leo XIV addressed the diocesan community of Madrid. With an initial joke about a Church "goal", the pontiff thanked music as a tool to "create community" among the "different souls". He highlighted that Spain is a people who "love music, dance, and being together", but also acknowledged the existence of "frustration and distrust".
In his speech, the Pope evoked the figure of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, calling to "recognize the other" and "not fear" diversity. He issued a clear warning: "Flee from people who always sing the same tune," a message about the importance of plurality of voices and sensitivities. The event featured a diverse audience, including young people, adults, and the elderly, many of whom shared how the Church had positively impacted their lives.
The visit of Pope Leo XIV marks a milestone, being the first official papal visit to Madrid since John Paul II. The event has also been marked by controversies, including the protest by Miguel Hurtado, an activist against abuse in the Church, who criticized not being received by the pontiff. Additionally, the Madrid Tenants' Union delivered a letter to the Pope warning about the role of entities linked to the Church in cases of real estate speculation and evictions.
Despite the controversies, the Pope's visit, alongside events like Bad Bunny's concert, has been a significant draw for the city. The Mass and Corpus Christi procession attracted approximately one and a half million attendees, and the broadcast of the visit was followed by around 400 million people worldwide.

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