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.
153 Articles
153 Articles
Pope's speech to Spanish parliament demands respect for migrants, gets 7-minute ovation
Spanish lawmakers gave Pope Leo XIV a standing ovation on Monday after he called for respect for migrants’ rights and international law in a historic address to parliament that signaled
The Pontiff urged respect for migrants' rights and international law
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…
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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