Pope Leo XIV delivered a major speech to Spain’s parliament in Madrid, cautioning that the world faces a profound spiritual and cultural crisis. He called on nations to address the roots and effects of migration, which he described as a tragic drama. The address also covered armed conflicts, artificial intelligence, climate change, and questions surrounding abortion and euthanasia. The pontiff stated that the crisis appears in various forms of violence, division and distrust, making peace a moral necessity rather than merely a political goal. He stressed that achieving peace demands diplomatic resolve, ethical commitment and reliance on international law instead of force. The pope expressed concern over renewed arms buildups in parts of the world, including Europe, arguing that genuine security arises from justice, dialogue and policies that value human lives above war profiteering. Migration formed a central theme of the speech, the first by a pope to Spanish lawmakers. Leo plans to meet migrants in the Canary Islands who have crossed the Atlantic from Africa. He noted that nations have a duty to welcome and integrate migrants while tackling the underlying causes such as lack of peace, economic disparity and climate effects. The pope also reaffirmed church teaching on the protection of human life from conception to natural death. Abortion has been legal in Spain since 1985 with later expansions, and euthanasia was authorised in 2021. Later the same day, Leo is scheduled to meet survivors of clerical sexual abuse, which he called a scourge requiring truth, justice and compensation.
