Pope Leo urges Spain's young people to persevere in their faith
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd of 40,000 in Barcelona, encouraging Spanish youth to persevere in their faith while openly discussing issues like depression, domestic violence, and toxic family relationships.
- The event included cultural elements such as Catalan human tower acrobats and featured a candid Q&A session where young people shared personal struggles, including suicide attempts and family violence.
- Leo linked the "silent illness" of depression to Christ’s suffering and condemned normalized domestic abuse, especially violence against women, calling for better mental health and domestic violence services.
- The pope emphasized hope and faith as sources of solace for young people in Spain, a country experiencing a religious resurgence among its youth despite a historically strong secular trend.
- Leo’s visit will continue with the inauguration of the central Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica, marking a significant moment in his weeklong Spanish trip.