During the celebration, the Pontiff defended the enduring relevance of Spanish Catholic tradition and called for popular religiosity to remain a living source of faith for new generations.
«This is not an outward display, a folkloric survival, or a mere aesthetic ornament», Leo XIV stated during the homily, in the first major public celebration of his apostolic journey to Spain.
The Golden Key of Madrid
Before the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father was received at the Palacio de Cibeles by Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who presented him with the city’s Golden Key in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, as well as Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
The Golden Key is the highest institutional distinction awarded by the Madrid City Council to heads of state who make official visits to the capital. Benedict XVI received the same honor during his visit to Spain in 2011.
During the ceremony, Leo XIV signed the City Council’s Book of Honor and expressed his hope that «Madrid will continue to be a welcoming and inclusive city, where social life is inspired by authentic human values».
«Corpus Christi is not just another feast»
The celebration began shortly after ten in the morning at an altar of nearly 600 square meters set up in Plaza de Cibeles, presided over by a large replica of the Christ of the Sisters of Bethlehem. More than 200 people took part in the sanctuary area, while thousands of priests and concelebrants filled the spaces designated for the liturgy.
In his homily, Leo XIV recalled the deep connection between the solemnity of Corpus Christi and Spain’s religious history. The Pope noted that Eucharistic processions have shaped the life of numerous Spanish cities and towns for centuries and emphasized that these public expressions of faith remain fully relevant today.
The Pontiff warned against the temptation to reduce religious tradition to a mere cultural or historical reference and affirmed that popular religiosity must continue to be «a school of faith» capable of inspiring personal, family, and social life.
He also insisted that the Eucharist necessarily leads to charity and commitment to those most in need. Recalling the traditional association in Spain between Corpus Christi and Charity Day, he pointed out that adoration of the Blessed Sacrament must translate into concrete care for the poor, the sick, and those suffering from loneliness or despair.
The Corpus Christi procession through central Madrid
After the Eucharistic celebration, Leo XIV led the traditional Corpus Christi procession through the streets of central Madrid, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament.
The Pope walked behind the monstrance carrying the Sacred Host, a piece crafted in 1943 and usually kept in the Museum of the Cathedral of La Almudena. Thousands of faithful accompanied the passage of the Blessed Sacrament along the route, one of the most significant moments of the day.
The procession covered approximately 700 meters from Plaza de Cibeles along Calle Alcalá toward Gran Vía. At the Church of San José, the procession turned and later returned to the square along the opposite lane.
With this Eucharistic procession, the first major public event of Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain came to an end—a celebration marked by the massive participation of the faithful and by the Pope’s reaffirmation of the Christian roots that have shaped Spain’s religious history.