The IFEMA venue will become the focal point for a large gathering on June 9th to welcome Pope Leo XIV during his apostolic visit to Spain. Over 12,000 volunteers, aged between 20 and 65, who are assisting in the organization of the papal visit to Madrid from June 6th to 12th, are expected to attend. The organization has highlighted the high participation, exceeding initial expectations.
The event will feature performances by artists such as Pablo López and Soraya Arnelas, who will offer a special repertoire for attendees. López will perform songs like 'El mejor momento' and 'El niño del espacio', while Arnelas will present 'Qué bonito'. The ceremony will also include contributions from María Vilumbrales with 'Como tus brazos' and the visit's anthem, 'Alza la mirada', in addition to a digital missionary, 70 tunas, and rapper Aisha Ruah.
“"It's going to be a big thank-you party. The volunteers will be the true protagonists of the encounter alongside the Pope."
Pope Leo XIV will tour the hall for ten minutes in a golf cart adapted as a Popemobile, greeting the volunteers. The event presentation will be handled by journalists Pedro José Rodríguez and Raquel Caldas. The Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, José Cobo, will deliver remarks before the papal address. The gathering is anticipated to be an act of gratitude towards the volunteers, who are considered the 'true protagonists'.
Volunteers will be distributed across various city locations for the papal visit: 11,000 at Cibeles, 4,000 at Plaza de Lima, 40 at Cedia, 400 at Movistar Arena, and 1,000 at the Bernabéu. Volunteers like María and Miguel have expressed their excitement and commitment to the Church and the Pontiff's visit.
The selection and recruitment process, led by Luis del Rey, involved reviewing 18,000 profiles to assign the most suitable tasks to each volunteer, ensuring smooth organization for the various events scheduled in Madrid.
