On Monday 8 June 2026, at 10:30, Pope Leo XIV will speak to the joint plenary session of the Spanish Congress of Deputies and Senate. No Pope had ever addressed the Spanish Parliament before; it will happen now, inside the Pope’s journey to Spain (6-12 June 2026). This page brings together the details of the event, the protocol, what other Popes did in European parliaments and the questions readers ask most often.
Why it is a historic event
No Pope had ever spoken to the Spanish Parliament before. John Paul II visited Spain five times between 1982 and 2003 and never delivered a speech in Congress. Benedict XVI made two trips (2010 and 2011) and did not either. Francis never came to Spain.
With this speech Leo XIV closes a gap that other countries had already filled. John Paul II spoke at the German Bundestag, the Polish National Assembly and the European Parliament. Benedict XVI did the same at Westminster Hall, the Bundestag (in 2011) and the French Parliament. The Spanish Cortes Generales now join that list.
The session is a joint sitting of Congress and Senate. The Spanish Constitution keeps this format for very specific state occasions, like the swearing in of a new King, declarations of war or motions of exceptional gravity. This will be the first time it is used to receive a foreign head of state with a universal religious role.
Political and ecclesial context
The speech lands at a delicate moment for Church-State relations in Spain. Three debates are open at once: how the Catholic Church is funded, the place of religious education in schools and the handling of sexual abuse in the clergy. In speeches like this one the Holy See usually asks the Pope to stick to universal values (human dignity, peace, migration, integral ecology) and stay away from partisan ground. The two natural references are Benedict XVI at Westminster (2010) and Francis at Strasbourg (2014).
Other Popes in European parliaments
| Año | Papa | Lugar | Tema |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | John Paul II | German Bundestag · Berlin | He spoke of European unity, freedom of conscience and the challenges of German reunification. |
| 2010 | Benedict XVI | Westminster Hall · London | He addressed the role of religion in political debate and the ethical foundations of democracy. |
| 2011 | Benedict XVI | German Bundestag · Berlin | He spoke on the foundations of positive law and human ecology. |
| 2014 | Francis | European Parliament · Strasbourg | Speech on human rights, the centrality of the person and the dignity of work. |
| 2026 | Leo XIV | Congress of Deputies · Madrid | First Pope to speak to the Spanish Cortes Generales in a joint session Congress + Senate. |
Programme for 8 June
Monday is the most institutional day of the visit. It includes five consecutive acts in Madrid:
- 09:30Private audience with Pedro Sánchez at the Apostolic Nunciature
- 10:30Speech to the joint Plenary of Congress and Senate · Carrera de San Jerónimo
- 12:30Meeting with Spanish bishops at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference
- 17:00Marian prayer at the Almudena Cathedral (floral offering)
- 19:00Diocesan gathering at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
What he will probably talk about
Based on what Leo XIV has been saying during his first year as Pope, five themes are very likely to appear in the speech:
Artificial intelligence and human dignity
This is the central theme of his pontificate and the heart of his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas (25 May 2026). He will call for an international governance of AI that puts the person at the centre.
Migration
It connects directly with his visits in the days after, to Arguineguín (Gran Canaria) and the Las Raíces centre (Tenerife). He has already repeated this idea: "no wall is higher than human dignity".
Social doctrine and inequality
He will pick up the line of Rerum Novarum, which turns 135 in 2026. Expect mentions of precarious work, income inequality and how digital technologies are changing labour.
Peace and disarmament
His "unarmed and disarming peace", aimed especially at Europe, against the background of war in Ukraine, conflict in Gaza and widespread rearmament.
Integral ecology
He will continue Francis’s Laudato si’ and tie climate justice to social justice.
How the event works
The joint Bureaus of Congress and Senate, chaired by Francina Armengol and Pedro Rollán, formally convene the session. Both will welcome the Pope at the main entrance on Carrera de San Jerónimo. He will speak from the central lectern of the Congress hemicycle, with the speech relayed to the Senate via screens. It is expected to last around 50 minutes. There is no reply turn for the parliamentary groups. A short reception follows in the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos.
How to follow it live
The session goes out live on Canal Parlamento, on TVE (La 1 and Canal 24 Horas) and on the official Vatican platforms (Vatican Media on YouTube, vaticannews.va). Radio: RNE and COPE will offer special coverage. Regional Spanish channels broadcast summaries and live cut-ins during the morning. The full text of the speech will be posted on vatican.va as soon as it has been delivered.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it the first time a Pope speaks at the Spanish Congress?
- Yes. No previous Pontiff had addressed the Plenary of the Spanish Congress of Deputies or the Senate. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made several visits but did not intervene at the Cortes.
- Why is a joint session of Congress and Senate held?
- The joint session is the most solemn institutional modality of the Spanish Parliament, reserved for great state occasions. Receiving the Pope with this formula places the act at the highest protocol level.
- What will Pope Leo XIV speak about?
- The previous text has not been made public. Based on his programmatic priorities, the most probable themes are: artificial intelligence and human dignity, migration, social doctrine, peace and disarmament, and integral ecology.
- Can the public attend the speech?
- No. The session is strictly parliamentary and only deputies, senators, members of the Government, the diplomatic corps and institutional guests attend. It is broadcast live by Canal Parlamento and TVE.
- What is the exact start time?
- The session is convened for 10:30 on Monday 8 June 2026. The Pope arrives previously from the Nunciature after his audience with the President of the Government at 09:30.
- Can the parliamentary groups speak after the address?
- No. The expected protocol does not include a turn of interventions from the groups. The Pope delivers his speech and then a brief reception is held at the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos.