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In first papal speech to Spanish parliament, pope demands respect for migrants

The pope called for legal migration paths, anti-smuggling efforts and peace, and lawmakers gave him a seven-minute standing ovation.

  • On Monday, Pope Leo XIV addressed Spain's Parliament, calling for renewed respect for international law and migrants' rights during a historic visit to Las Cortes Generales. The rare papal address signaled a notable shift in the Catholic Church's acceptance within the country's secular political sphere.
  • Leo cited the 16th-century School of Salamanca, which established early concepts of human rights, while acknowledging the Church's past role as a pillar of Gen. Francisco Franco's dictatorship. This appearance signals transformation from that complex history.
  • Urging "moral renewal" in public life, the Pope warned against a "throwaway culture" and called for "rigorous ethical oversight" of automated weapons systems created by artificial intelligence. He emphasized protecting life from conception through natural end.
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, an atheist, has praised Leo as a "moral compass," creating an unlikely political alliance. This convergence persists despite Sánchez's government facing corruption scandals and navigating three years without a budget.
  • Receiving more than seven minutes of applause, the Holy Father challenged Spain to remain a land of "encounter, culture, solidarity, and hope." He concluded by praying for peace and prosperity amid global instability and domestic division.
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The Pontiff urged respect for migrants' rights and international law

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Pope Leo is concerned about the new arms buildup in Europe and warns the parliament in Madrid against a policy that forgets the people and only seeks to control migrant flows. Source link: https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/spanien-reise-papst-kritisiert-aufruestung-und-migrationspolitik-europas-accg-200908692.html Author: Hans-Christian Rößler, Madrid Publish date: 2026-06-08 16:41:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the lin…

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In a rare appearance in the Parliament in Madrid, the Pontifex is concerned about Europe's upgrading and dealing with migration.

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El Pais broke the news in Spain on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
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