Madrid reviews papal visit: millions of travelers and thanks

The regional president highlights coordination and citizen civility after Pope Leo XIV's stay in the capital.

Generic image of a crowd celebrating in a Madrid square.
IA

Generic image of a crowd celebrating in a Madrid square.

The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has given a positive assessment of the recent visit of Pope Leo XIV to the capital, highlighting the figure of 5.6 million users on the metro and the civility of Madrileños and visitors.

Following the departure of Pope Leo XIV for Barcelona, President Isabel Díaz Ayuso appeared from the Real Casa de Correos in Puerta del Sol to thank all those involved in the organization and execution of the papal visit. She emphasized the dedication of the people of Madrid and the "hundreds of thousands of people who have come from all corners of the world," who "filled the streets with joy and celebration" in "healthy coexistence."
The visit required an unprecedented deployment in mobility and security, with over 10,000 agents from State Security Forces and Corps, in addition to municipal resources, health and emergency personnel, and public transport staff. Collaboration between administrations, including the Ministry of the Interior, was crucial to ensure the smooth running of the events.
A key factor in facilitating connectivity and avoiding traffic jams was the emphasis on public transport. The EMT buses and BiciMad were made free, interurban buses were reinforced with over 200 additional vehicles, and the Madrid Metro with up to 55 extra trains during peak hours. This resulted in 5.6 million users on the metro and 85,000 bank card validations at the turnstiles, an initiative by the Ministry of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure under Jorge Rodrigo.
The Metro stations that benefited most were Nuevos Ministerios, with over 55,000 entries on Saturday (50% more than usual), and Gregorio Marañón and República Argentina. On Sunday, Goya recorded nearly 30,000 users, followed by Alonso Martínez (over 20,000) and Príncipe de Vergara (over 15,000).
Beyond transport, the president highlighted the use of 18 educational centers, including high schools and public schools, to accommodate pilgrims. The estimated economic impact of the visit was calculated at 120 million euros.

"It has been a true honor and a privilege to be the gateway for the Holy Father to Spain (...) Madrid will continue as always, its home to look up and continue being a crossroads, a great place in the world to be and celebrate life."

Isabel Díaz Ayuso · President of the Community of Madrid