Pope Leo XIV has clearly opened the door to a visit to Spain, by assuring that “you can have more than hopes” regarding a possible trip. The Pontiff responded this way to the four Spanish journalists accompanying him on the flight to Turkey and then Lebanon, on his first international trip. “We will see the dates”, he added, leaving the decision in an advanced phase.
The Pope has received several invitations to travel to Spain, but the most prominent is that of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Juan José Omella, in the context of the completion of the Sagrada Familia works in 2026. The proposal was reiterated by the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, during a subsequent visit. Both invitations position Barcelona as the most likely destination for the future trip.
Additionally, from the previous pontificate, a possible visit to the Canary Islands remained pending, linked to the migratory crisis in the archipelago. Leo XIV did not rule out that possibility.