Pope Leos flower-carpeted procession draws large crowds in Madrid

Pope Leo XIV Visits Madrid for Corpus Domini Mass

Pope Leo XIV attended a mass in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles on Sunday, where an estimated 1.2 million people gathered to celebrate the Catholic feast day of Corpus Domini. The event marked the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years.

During the mass, Pope Leo XIV referred to Spain as a “school of faith,” highlighting its centuries-old tradition of religious devotion. Following the service, a procession took place through the city centre, featuring elaborate floral carpets arranged along the route. The processions are a common feature on Corpus Domini feast days in predominantly Catholic countries.

The floral carpets were prepared by a Spanish florists’ association from Galicia and featured over 30,000 flowers in yellow and white colours, the colours of the Holy See flag. At the end of the mass, Pope Leo XIV carried a gilded monstrance through the floral carpets, which were accompanied by children dropping additional petals and the crowd tossing petals behind barricades.

The event was attended by large crowds, with many people eager to witness the papal visit. The mass and procession took place on Sunday, as part of the Catholic feast day celebrations.

Source: Al Jazeera