With barely a week left before Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit to Spain, the organization continues to move forward with preparations for the main events scheduled in the capital. Among the latest developments, an image has been released showing the installation of a large cross in Madrid’s Plaza de Lima, the site where the Pontiff will meet thousands of young people during the vigil planned for Saturday, June 6.
The space, located next to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, will become one of the main venues of the papal trip. It is expected to host numerous young people from various Spanish dioceses for a day of prayer, reflection, and encounter with the Holy Father.
The cross now dominates Plaza de Lima
The structure, visible from various points in the northern part of the capital, has been installed at the location where the central act of the youth vigil will take place.
Plaza de Lima, a usual gathering point for major events in Madrid, now features the cross that stands as the main element of the stage from which Leo XIV will deliver his message to the attendees.
Madrid finalizes preparations
The installation of the cross marks one of the visible milestones in the final preparations for the Holy Father’s arrival. In the coming days, work will continue on setting up infrastructure, sound systems, screens, and security devices required for the event.
One final reflection remains: while Madrid prepares a great cross to welcome the Pope and thousands of young people, just a few kilometers from the city the Cross of the Valley of the Fallen continues to rise—the largest cross in Christendom. The monument that in recent times has been the focus of the Spanish Government’s resignification project, to the point that its proximity to the Valley reportedly influenced the exclusion of some venues initially considered for Leo XIV’s visit.