Pope León XIV meets Bad Bunny, draws massive crowds in Spain

Pope León XIV's first visit to Spain in 15 years has been marked by record crowds and an unexpected meeting with pop star Bad Bunny, blending faith with popular culture. The pontiff greeted the Puerto Rican singer and his family after a diocesan event at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, a private encounter confirmed by the Vatican Source: CNN. The meeting came amid Bad Bunny's ten-concert stand in Madrid, which also attracted Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, who were spotted enjoying the show at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in a rare casual outing Source: excelsiormx.

Massive Turnout

The Pope's open-air mass in Plaza de Cibeles drew over one million attendees, while a youth vigil in Plaza de Lima gathered half a million Source: CNN. Despite a decline in Catholic identification in Spain, the Pope's appeal to young people was evident as he performed the trending 'six-seven' gesture and engaged with crowds.

Sagrada Familia and Music

The highlight of the Barcelona leg was the blessing of the Torre de Jesús at Sagrada Familia, accompanied by a spectacular drone show depicting Antoni Gaudí Source: lavanguardia. The ceremony featured Gregorian chants and contemporary compositions, blending tradition with innovation Source: abces.

Controversy: Separatist Protest Foiled

A planned protest by about 600 choir members who intended to display separatist flags and sing 'Els Segadors' during the event was thwarted by security forces Source: elconfidencial. They were removed from the basilica before the broadcast, avoiding disruption. The incident sparked political debate, with Junts demanding explanations from the Catalan government Source: elmundoes.