The Pope in Spain, from Leo XIV's visit to the earlier journeys

When is the Pope coming to Spain is a question with a catch, because the answer is already in the past. Leo XIV was in Spain from 6 to 12 June 2026, and as things stand no other trip has been announced. Here’s what he did and where, the journeys of earlier popes and, since this is a travel guide, what I’d do if the aim is to see him in person.

Is the Pope coming back to Spain?

As of 3 October 2026, nothing has been announced. The Holy See’s list of 2026 journeys ends with the tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned between 6 and 17 November, and the Bishops’ Conference hasn’t published any new trip. I don’t give dates that don’t come from an official source. If another visit is announced, I’ll add it here with the date and the city.

If your real goal was to see him up close, my advice is to turn the plan around. In Rome you have the Wednesday general audience and the Sunday Angelus at noon, both free, and I explain everything in seeing the Pope for free in Rome. For Wednesday you request the ticket in advance, and the step-by-step is in the Wednesday papal audience. Who Leo XIV is and where he comes from I sum up in who Pope Leo XIV is.

Leo XIV’s journey to Spain, June 2026

The Spanish Bishops’ Conference made it public on 25 February 2026, at the invitation of King Felipe VI and the Church in Spain, and the Holy See Press Office published the full programme on 6 May. It was seven days in three stages, Madrid, Barcelona with Montserrat, and the Canary Islands, under the motto “Alzad la mirada”, raise your eyes.

Madrid took the state occasions. The Pope landed at Barajas on the morning of Saturday 6, was welcomed at the Royal Palace and that night held a youth vigil in Plaza de Lima. On Sunday 7, the feast of Corpus Christi, he celebrated Mass at Cibeles with a procession, and Vatican News reported the local authorities’ figure of 1.2 million people. On Monday 8 he addressed deputies and senators in the Congress, met the bishops at their Conference, prayed in the Almudena and in the evening met the diocese at the Santiago Bernabéu.

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Barcelona, Montserrat and the tower of Jesus Christ

On Tuesday 9 he flew to Barcelona, prayed at midday in the cathedral and in the evening led a vigil at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. On Wednesday 10 he visited Brians 1 prison, went up to Montserrat to pray the rosary and lunch with the monks, and in the evening celebrated Mass at the Sagrada Família.

The date was chosen with care. 10 June 2026 was a hundred years since Gaudí’s death, and at the end of the Mass the Pope blessed the tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest in the church at 172.5 metres. Vatican News puts the crowd at the evening’s show at more than 120,000. For me, the Sagrada Família finally having its central tower is the best reason to go back even if you’ve seen it before, Pope or no Pope.

The Canaries, the least ceremonial leg

On Thursday 11 he landed in Gran Canaria and went first to Arguineguín harbour, to the organisations that look after migrants arriving by sea. He then met the clergy in Santa Ana Cathedral and celebrated Mass in the afternoon at the Gran Canaria Stadium. On Friday 12 he crossed to Tenerife, visited the Las Raíces reception centre, stopped in the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna and said the final Mass at Santa Cruz harbour. He flew back to Rome that night on the Spanish Royal Household’s plane, which the King offered after a fault with the scheduled aircraft.

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Earlier popes’ journeys to Spain

John Paul II was the first, and the most frequent visitor. His 1982 journey, from 31 October to 9 November, crossed half the country, from Ávila and Toledo to Seville, Loyola, Montserrat and Santiago. He came back in 1984 for a stop in Zaragoza, in 1989 for World Youth Day in Santiago and a visit to Covadonga, in 1993 to Seville, Huelva and Madrid, where he consecrated the Almudena Cathedral, and in 2003 to Madrid, with young people at Cuatro Vientos and a Mass in Plaza de Colón.

Benedict XVI came three times. To Valencia in July 2006 for the World Meeting of Families, to Santiago and Barcelona in November 2010, when he consecrated the Sagrada Família, and to Madrid in August 2011 for World Youth Day. Francis, in twelve years as pope, made no apostolic journey to Spain. And if you’re wondering about popes born there, the official list has two, the Borgias of Xàtiva, whom I cover in the list of popes.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Borgo, Rome and choose by the reviews.

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Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Borgo, Rome before prices climb.