Overview
- Madrid’s Cardinal José Cobo Cano said plans are advancing after talks with a senior Vatican Secretariat of State official, though dates remain undecided and June is only rumored.
- The proposal includes a stop at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, aligning with the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death and his path toward possible beatification.
- A visit to the Canary Islands is envisioned to highlight migration routes into Europe, fulfilling a pastoral wish long emphasized during Pope Francis’ pontificate.
- Spain’s government says the bishops agreed to give the state ombudsman final authority over church-funded abuse payouts, a move it credits to Vatican backing despite resistance from some bishops.
- This would be Leo’s first known trip on the 2026 calendar; he has also voiced interest in traveling to Algeria and back to Peru, Argentina and Uruguay, and on Friday he stressed migrants’ inalienable rights in a speech to diplomats.