Pope Leo XIV arrives in Spain on Saturday for a week-long visit to one of Europe's traditional centers of Christianity. The trip is expected to focus on immigration and social justice.

The Pope will also meet with some victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Pope's central message will be for young people to help them "envisage the future, even in an age of strongmen, where the church seeks to foster holy men."

On Monday, the Pope will address both chambers of the Spanish Parliament, a historic first for any pope. The visit comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces mounting political pressure over corruption scandals.

Spain's Catholic identity is undergoing a crisis, with declining church attendance and rising secularism. Meanwhile, Pope Leo's image has appeared across Madrid on subway cars, billboards, and metro ads, while souvenir shops sell papal merchandise and bakeries offer limited-edition pope-themed cakes.

This is the US-born Pope Leo's first trip to an EU country outside of Italy and the first papal trip to Spain in more than 15 years.

Source: www.dw.com