Pope Leo praises Spain’s commitment to peace and respect for law after Trump rift

EuropePope Leo praises Spain’s commitment to peace and respect for law after Trump riftThe pontiff, who speaks fluent Spanish, will seek out ways to connect on his weeklong visit - but faces some unlikely competition as he seeks to rally young people in Madrid.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Pope Leo XIV waves upon his arrival at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid/Barajas International Airport on June 6.Stefano Rellandini / AFP via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 6, 2026, 9:44 AM EDTBy Claudio LavangaMADRID — Pope Leo may not find it hard to connect with his hosts as he kicks off a weeklong visit to Spain this weekend.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Like Leo, Spain’s socialist government has been vocally critical of the Iran war, risking the ire of the Trump administration by refusing to provide military support. And also like the Chicago-born pontiff, Spain has been outspoken in opposing Israel’s war in Gaza.That may have been on Leo’s mind on Saturday during his address at Madrid’s Royal Palace, where, after being greeted by King Felipe VI, he expressed his gratitude for Spain’s faithful adherence to international law and active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples. Advocating for peace is important “in an age seemingly shaken by terrible imbalances and conflicts,” he said.Another not-so-hidden advantage is that Leo, who got his start as a missionary in Peru, speaks fluent Spanish. He was expected to put that skill to use later on Saturday at a rally in front of young people in the city’s Plaza de Lima.It was hoped that half a million young people would turn out for the event, though the pontiff acknowledged some surprising competition: Bad Bunny, who is also performing in the city.While unlikely to compete with the typically bombastic spectacle of the “Tití Me Preguntó” rapper’s live performance, Leo joked that at least a few would opt to see him instead.“If they...