The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, will be received this Sunday, December 28, in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. According to Europa Press, the audience will take place at 12:30 in the Apostolic Palace and during the meeting he will present the Pontiff with a silver statue of the Virgin of Almudena, patron saint of Madrid.
The meeting is part of a private and personal trip that Martínez-Almeida will make to Rome over the weekend. It will be the second occasion in which he will be received by a Pope. The first took place on March 18, 2023, when he had an audience with Pope Francis on the occasion of the Holy Year of Saint Isidore.
On that occasion, the media outlet Alfa & Omega recalls, the Pontiff also received the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the then Government delegate in Madrid, Mercedes González. The meeting was attended by the then Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Carlos Osoro.
After that audience, the political leaders stated that the conversation revolved around the city of Madrid and its citizens, and that Pope Francis emphasized the importance of unity and attending to the needs of people with the greatest difficulties.