More than one million people gathered in central Madrid on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV’s main Mass and a grand religious procession featuring Spain’s traditional flower carpets, one of the country’s most iconic expressions of Catholic devotion.
The crowd filled Plaza Cibeles and surrounding streets, cheering loudly as the pope arrived in his popemobile. Many shouted, “This is the youth of the pope!” as he made his way through the packed venue surrounded by barricades.
Sunday’s Mass marked the Catholic feast of Corpus Domini, a day traditionally observed with processions in which priests carry the Eucharist through streets decorated with intricate floral designs. In Spain and other mainly Catholic countries, these flower carpets are a key part of the celebration.
Pope Leo XIV, who began his weeklong visit to Spain on Saturday, has been encouraging young people to connect with long-standing Catholic traditions and consider religious vocations.
At a vigil on Saturday night, around 600,000 young people joined the pope in prayer, many kneeling in silence. The large turnout suggested continued interest in religious life among youth in Spain, a country often described as highly secular.
“Don’t ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or other services in the church,” the pope told the gathering.
During the vigil, a young couple, Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, who are set to marry on June 13, were invited close to receive the pope’s blessing after holding up a sign announcing their wedding plans.
“Seeing so many young people together is incredible. Half a million people in silence, it’s something you only experience once,” Valda said.
Organisers said about 1.2 million people attended Sunday’s Mass and procession under clear spring skies, with many more unable to enter the main area.
The flower carpet tradition, where detailed designs are created on streets and later destroyed as the procession passes over them, dates back around 200 years. It is also seen in parts of Latin America, where sand designs are used in similar rituals. The artworks are considered offerings to the Eucharist.
Spain’s Galicia region is among areas seeking UNESCO recognition for its tradition of flower carpets as part of global intangible cultural heritage, following Poland’s earlier recognition.
According to organisers, 16 floral carpets lined a half-kilometre procession route. More than 30,000 flowers were used, mainly in yellow and white to reflect the colours of the Holy See, along with religious symbols such as the keys of the Vatican.
Religious processions remain a strong cultural feature across Spain, especially during Holy Week, when brotherhoods carry statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through the streets accompanied by music and large crowds of both worshippers and tourists.
Local fiestas also frequently honour patron saints, while pilgrimages such as Andalusia’s El Rocío draw up to a million participants who travel on horseback and decorated wagons in a mix of devotion and celebration.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday, calling for unity and an end to political polarisation. He is expected to meet members of his Augustinian order and address cultural leaders later on Sunday.