The Papal Mass in Spain features an iconic procession along a carpet of flowers
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Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to central Madrid on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV's Mass and a procession that highlighted the most striking expressions of Spain's popular devotion: carpets of flowers.
They were happy and shouted “This is papa's youth!” as Leo arrived at the Mass, he circled the plaza and surrounding streets in his popemobile to the crowd several rows deep behind the barriers.
Sunday Mass is held on the day of the Catholic feast of Corpus Domini, which usually includes a procession of the faithful in towns and cities led by a priest officiating the Mass. In Spain, as in other predominantly Catholic countries, the procession often has carpets decorated with flowers lined up along the route.
Leo, who arrived in Spain on Saturday at the start of his week-long visit, was keen to highlight the long tradition of Catholic devotion here to encourage especially the younger generations to find their faith.
At Saturday night's vigil service, an estimated 600,000 young Spaniards knelt for a few minutes in silent prayer next to Leo, suggesting that there is real interest among young people despite Spain's highly spiritual society.
“Let me take the opportunity to tell you all: Never be afraid to think about a priestly or religious vocation, or other services of the church!” Leo told the crowd.
Pope Leo welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican on Thursday, where they discussed efforts to maintain relations between the US and the Vatican, according to statements from both governments. Rubio's trip comes amid President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on the pope over the Iran war.
Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, a young couple, held up a cardboard sign announcing that they would marry on June 13 and were brought closer to receive Leo's blessing during the vigil.
“Seeing so many young people together, it's amazing. Half a million people are silent, this is something you'll only experience once,” said Valda.
A kind of popular devotion that dates back centuries
The tradition of laying carpets of flowers – and destroying them when the procession steps on them – dates back two centuries and is also popular in Latin America, where elaborate sand designs are made. Sharp displays are considered a Eucharistic offering.
Poland already has its Corpus Domini flower carpet tradition recognized by UNESCO, and the Spanish region of Galicia is trying to have its tradition listed along with other countries as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage.
According to the Spanish organizers, the 16 flower carpets that decorate the half-kilometer route were prepared by the Spanish flower organization from Galicia. Florists used more than 30,000 flowers, mostly in the yellow and white colors of the Holy See flag, on the carpets that included decorations like the keys of the Holy See.
Leo arrived in Spain on Saturday and urged its people to put an end to racism and work for unity. Later on Sunday he will meet privately with members of his Augustinian religious order and speak to cultural leaders.
