With Lima Square packed with over half a million young people, the Holy Father concluded the first day of his journey to Spain with a call for youth to be a “spark of a new humanity.”
Lima Square witnessed the most emotional moment of the first day of the Pope’s visit to Spain on Saturday. After being escorted to the square in the Pope Mobile by a group of children dressed as Swiss Guards, the Holy Father arrived to a warm welcome from over half a million young people. Following a greeting from Cardinal José Cobo, Archbishop of Madrid, Pope Leo XIV spent nearly half an hour engaging in dialogue with the gathered youth during the Prayer Vigil, addressing their questions about faith, Christian identity, and the challenges faced by their generation. The gathering combined a musical festival with a prolonged silence of Eucharistic Adoration.
“From Madrid to Heaven”
“This is the youth of the Pope,” Cardinal Cobo began, capturing the enthusiasm of those present. Before the dialogue, Cardinal Cobo welcomed the Holy Father and the thousands of youths who had travelled from across Spain. In his address, the cardinal painted a picture of the youth before the Pope: enthusiastic and full of vitality, yet also marked by precariousness, loneliness, and, in some painful cases, despair. “Lift your gaze so as not to be trapped in the immediate or in hopelessness.” The cardinal spoke directly to the Pope: “Holy Father, thank you for coming to help us lift our gaze. Thank you for confirming us in faith, encouraging us in our mission, and reminding us that the Spirit continues to act and that the Church remains sent forth. This is your house. Today we can say together: with Christ, with You, with the Church: from Madrid to Heaven.”
The Pope’s Response to the Youth
Following the Pope’s welcome, some of the young attendees asked about the spiritual figures that influenced the Holy Father’s youth—besides St. Augustine—his memories from his missionary years in Peru, or his initial feelings upon being elected as Pope.
Regarding his influences, Pope Leo XIV mentioned St. John Chrysostom, saying, “his catechesis has particularly impressed me, for it combines love for truth with a righteous life.” Drawing from his own life, the Pope urged the youth: “Never be afraid to consider a vocation to the priesthood, religious life, or other services within the Church.”
He also cited two Spanish saints: the Augustinian St. Thomas of Villanueva, whose “ardent charity has encouraged me in moments of trial,” and St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, “a model of service to the people, especially to the poorest, in the name of Christ.”
Reflecting on his time in Peru, the Holy Father shared how “the witness of faith from people—a faith marked by many challenges yet full of hope—was transformative.”
It was, he said, the “encounter with the wounds and joys of the people” that helped him grow in his own faith and follow Jesus, stating, “I was transformed by the Gospel, experiencing that the word of the Lord brings peace where there is conflict and becomes, for all, a source of reconciliation and justice.”
“God Knows Your Voice Well”
In a second segment, questions revolved around how to discern God’s voice amid many distractions and how to accompany those discovering the beauty of faith.
The Holy Father offered three pieces of advice. Firstly, he emphasised the value of silence. “To hear God’s voice, silence is essential; it fosters attention and reflection.” In this regard, he noted that “in silence, we realise that ideologies fade while truth remains.” He highlighted the importance of “seeking the truth,” for “God is Truth.”
Secondly, he urged the youth to trust in God. “Be assured that God knows your voice well: He listens to you and will respond.” He added that “prayer is a free voice precisely because it does not seek accountability,” but rather, “when we become prayer, the Lord responds with His Word.”
His third piece of advice was a call to humility. “Remember, none of us was born a teacher, and before the Lord, we are always disciples.” Such humility urges one to share personal spiritual journeys, “giving testimony with a coherent life: the will to follow Jesus will continuously renew you.”
“I invite you,” he continued, “to act as shepherds, educators, and friends. If you pray with love, the youth will appreciate the importance of prayer. If you burn with faith, you will pass on its living fire. Seek in your hearts this flame of God’s love, for there lies the presence of Jesus, which can be felt even in our moments of falling, because Jesus will never abandon us.”
“We Are Free in Christ!”
The final segment of questions focused on how youth can live as committed Christians in society and the specific mission the Holy Father requests of them. During the event, the Pope encouraged newlyweds or those soon to be married: “Do not fear marriage or forming families.”
Responding to the inquiries, the Pope stated: “The disciples of Jesus are always contemporaries, yet never prisoners of passing time. We are free in Christ!”
After asserting that the sense of History culminates in communion with God, the Pope reminded the youth that they are called “to give a new direction to society, becoming protagonists of change starting from your daily connections.”
“Seeing you, dear youth, filled with the enthusiasm driven by faith, I am excited about your capacity to witness to Christ in the world, including the digital realm.” Regarding their mission amidst indifference, complacency, war violence, and deceit, the Pope entrusted the youth to be the “spark of a new humanity.”
“The mission I entrust to you is precisely this: to be human. Yes, be human! Men and women of flesh and blood. Not just appearances, but trustworthy faces. People who seek justice because they hunger for it, like daily bread. People who desire an honest and righteous life.” He encouraged them to look to the apostles and the early Christians as models. “Following their example, be missionaries of the Gospel amid the material and spiritual poverty of our time.”
After concluding the dialogue, the Holy Father signed the Youth Cross, crafted for the occasion, standing approximately 4 metres tall and 2.5 metres wide, sharing the stage with an image of the Virgin of Almudena.
A Shared Silence in the Heart of Madrid
After the dialogue, as the Holy Father withdrew to prepare for the Eucharistic Adoration, Fito Robles, vocalist of Siloé, and Father Jaime Salmoreno performed a song. Around 21:50, Eucharistic Adoration began with a prayer from the Holy Father. As the Pope prepared, a hush fell over Lima Square. Silence enveloped Madrid beneath the performance of several Eucharistic hymns, leading to the Holy Father’s prayer alongside the hundreds of thousands in attendance. Before the prayer, the Gospel passage recounting the feeding of the 5,000 was read. During the meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, in addition to readings of various Gospel passages, the Hakuna group performed the piece “Tú, único Rey.”
At the conclusion, following the reading of the intercessions, the Holy Father blessed the attendees and all who followed the events via media. Moreover, he dedicated the final moments to greet young people, artists, and the organising team before leaving. The silence of Madrid resonated within their hearts during the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
Following the Adoration, the event concluded with a fireworks display set to the official hymn of the Journey.
A “Festival of Faith” to Kick Off the Celebration
The day began at 16:30 with the opening of Lima Square, which welcomed hundreds of thousands of young people. Under the slogan “It’s not a trend, it’s truth,” the pre-event featured a musical festival with performances by Lola Tuduri, Ignacio Serrano, DePol, Antonio José, Inazio with Hey Kid, Besmaya and Malmö, Beret with Mr. Rain, and Siloé; along with a rendition of the Almudena hymn. Among the most anticipated moments was the performance of “Samaritano,” directed by Antonio Banderas, featuring the cast of the musical Godspell.
The processional entry of the Virgin of Almudena marked the transition from festival to prayer. While awaiting the Holy Father’s arrival to commence the Vigil, the youth prayed the Rosary with luminous mysteries, guided by various works from the Museum’s collections displayed during the Night in White and Yellow.
