King Felipe VI to Bid Farewell to Pope Leo XIV at Tenerife Airport
King Felipe VI will be responsible for bidding farewell to Pope Leo XIV at Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport next Friday, 12th June, at the conclusion of his visit to Spain, which begins this Saturday in Madrid. Although it was initially planned for Queen Sofía to travel to the Canary Islands to attend the farewell ceremony for the pontiff, Zarzuela announced on Thursday that it will be the head of State who attends in Tenerife.
The Only Royal Engagement in the Canary Islands
The farewell in Tenerife will be the sole event involving the royal family during the Pope’s visit to the Canary Islands. Prior to this, Pope Leo XIV will have several meetings with different members of the royal family throughout his journey in Spain. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will welcome the Pope upon his arrival at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 10:30 on Saturday, 6th June. An hour later, at 11:30, they will meet with him again at the Royal Palace, this time accompanied by their daughters.
Schedule in Madrid and Barcelona
At the Royal Palace, the Pope’s courtesy visit will take place, along with a meeting with the authorities and the diplomatic corps accredited in Spain. It is here that Leo XIV will deliver his first speech during this visit. The following day, Sunday 7th June, the King and Queen, along with the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía, will attend a mass at Cibeles Square in Madrid.
On Monday, 8th June, Queen Sofía will attend a prayer and tribute to the Virgin of Almudena at the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena. By Wednesday, the King and Queen will have travelled to Barcelona for a mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. Additionally, it has been confirmed that the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will accompany Pope Leo XIV during his meeting on 11th June with migrants and the workers and volunteers assisting them at the port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria.
