The presence of Pope Leo XIV in the Spanish capital this weekend has led to a significant uptick in religious book sales at the 84th Madrid Book Fair. Booksellers and publishers have confirmed that copies of the encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas' sold out shortly after the Holy Mass held at Plaza de Cibeles.
Ediciones Palabra was among the most affected, selling out the 200 copies of the encyclical they brought to the fair, encompassing both its first and second editions. The last available volumes were sold on Sunday morning, following the Mass presided over by the Pontiff. Booksellers at Paulinas also experienced a considerable increase, selling 349 copies of the work.
Editorial San Pablo also depleted its stock of 'Magnifica Humanitas' but has continued to restock. One of their booksellers noted that people are actively inquiring about it and that the weekend saw "much more sales" and "more foot traffic" at their stand.
Visitor interest has not been limited to the encyclical. At San Pablo, they have also received numerous inquiries about the biography of Pope Leo XIV, one of the most sought-after titles during the apostolic visit to Madrid.
David Zazo from Editorial Edice linked the encyclical's success to its inaugural nature, describing it as a "program" that will shape the pontificate. He explained that this factor, combined with the Pontiff's presence in Spain, contributed to its rapid sale. Furthermore, he recalled that his publishing house had already seen increased demand for books on Saint Augustine since last year, given that Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian Pope, which has bolstered interest in spirituality and theological tradition.
At the Editorial Clie stand, Loreto Rodríguez highlighted an unusual interest in patristics, with many inquiries about books on the history of patristics and the Patristic Bible. Sales of these titles, as well as works on the history of the Christian Church, have notably increased.
The papal visit has attracted readers who do not necessarily identify as religious. Saúl Fernández of Editorial San Esteban mentioned that even atheists have approached them interested in learning about Christianity, attributing this phenomenon to the Pope's presence. His stand has also been continuously restocking the encyclical, although visitors are also showing interest in other religious titles.
A family from Zaragoza, after attending the Holy Mass at Cibeles, visited the Book Fair to purchase the encyclical and the Pontiff's biography, noting the difficulty in finding copies as several stands had sold out. A 24-year-old young man, Rodrigo, also sought the encyclical, expressing particular interest in the Pope's perspective on artificial intelligence.
