By zoey
Pope Pope Leo XIV called for stronger protections for migrants, greater respect for international law and a renewed commitment to human dignity during a landmark address to Spain’s parliament on Monday, marking a historic moment in relations between the Catholic Church and one of Europe’s most secularized societies.
Speaking before the members of the Spanish legislature, known as the Las Cortes Generales, Leo urged political leaders to embrace what he described as a moral renewal in public life and governance.
His speech emphasized the need to protect society’s most vulnerable members, including migrants, children, the elderly and those living in poverty, while encouraging lawmakers to place human dignity at the center of political decision-making.
“The moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most fragile,” the pope told legislators.
The speech carried particular significance because addresses by popes to national legislatures remain uncommon. Such appearances often symbolize a level of recognition and acceptance between political institutions and religious leadership.
Previous examples include Pope Francis addressing the U.S. Congress in 2015 and Pope Benedict XVI speaking before Germany’s Bundestag in 2011.
Leo’s invitation to address Spain’s parliament reflected a notable evolution in the relationship between the Catholic Church and Spanish political life. For much of the 20th century, the Church maintained close ties with the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, enjoying extensive influence over Spanish society and institutions.
Following Spain’s transition to democracy in the late 1970s, however, the Church’s political influence gradually diminished as secular attitudes spread throughout the country.
Although millions of Spaniards continue to identify culturally as Catholic, church attendance and religious observance have declined significantly over recent decades, mirroring broader trends across Western Europe.
Despite those changes, lawmakers responded warmly to Leo’s remarks. At the conclusion of his address, members of parliament rose for an extended standing ovation, with some chanting “Viva el Papa,” or “Long live the pope.”
The pope’s appearance came at a moment of heightened international tension, particularly in the Middle East, where escalating exchanges between Israel and Iran have raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Addressing the deteriorating security situation, Leo renewed his appeal for diplomacy and dialogue as the primary means of resolving disputes.
“Peace demands diplomatic courage, ethical responsibility and a vision for the future grounded in respect for the identity of every people and in the obligation of states to resolve their disputes through the peaceful means offered by international law,” he said.
The pontiff also voiced concern over rising military spending across Europe. Governments throughout the continent have increased defense budgets in response to security concerns linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty surrounding future Western military commitments.
Leo warned against viewing rearmament as the inevitable answer to global instability.
“It is therefore a cause for concern that, in various parts of the world — and in Europe as well — rearmament is once again being presented as an almost inevitable response to the fragility of the international situation,” he said.
The pope further addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in military affairs, calling for strict ethical oversight of autonomous weapons systems.
He stressed that decisions involving life and death must remain under human responsibility and should never be delegated entirely to machines or automated technologies.
During his speech, Leo reflected on Spain’s historical contribution to the development of international law and human rights. He praised the intellectual tradition known as the School of Salamanca, a group of 16th-century Spanish theologians and scholars who challenged prevailing views on power, colonialism and the treatment of indigenous peoples during Spain’s expansion into the Americas.
The pope said those thinkers recognized that political power and self-interest must be constrained by moral principles and universal human rights.
At the same time, Leo acknowledged that both society and the Church had often failed to live up to those ideals. His comments were widely interpreted as a reference to the Catholic Church’s historical involvement in colonial expansion and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The remarks echoed recent statements in which Leo expressed regret for the role church institutions played in legitimizing slavery during earlier centuries.
Migration was another major focus of the pope’s address. Building on themes that have defined much of his papacy, Leo called for greater international cooperation to combat migrant smuggling networks while also addressing the root causes that force people to leave their homes.
He argued that governments have a dual responsibility: to provide safe and legal pathways for those fleeing hardship while simultaneously creating conditions that allow people to remain in their own countries if they choose.
“This gives rise to a twofold demand for social justice: to offer safe and legal pathways, a respectful welcome and real opportunities for integration; and, at the same time, to promote the right to remain in one’s own land,” Leo said.
The pope noted that many people are driven to migrate because of armed conflict, insecurity, poverty, economic inequality and the growing impact of climate-related challenges. He said lasting solutions must address these underlying factors rather than focusing solely on border enforcement.
His comments aligned closely with policies pursued by the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez’s administration has defended immigration on both humanitarian and economic grounds, arguing that newcomers help address labor shortages created by Spain’s aging population and low birth rate.
Earlier this year, the government launched measures aimed at regularizing the status of hundreds of thousands of migrants living and working in Spain without formal authorization.
The pope’s visit also took place during a politically sensitive period for Spain. Sánchez’s government has faced mounting pressure from corruption investigations involving several figures within his political circle, although the prime minister himself has not been accused of wrongdoing. The inquiries have contributed to growing political tensions and deepened divisions between Spain’s major political parties.
Political polarization has increasingly shaped Spain’s national debate, while Sánchez’s minority government has struggled to secure parliamentary support for key legislation, including national budgets over the past three years.
Without directly referencing specific political controversies, Leo urged lawmakers to resist divisive rhetoric and maintain respect for democratic pluralism.
“Political pluralism should not degenerate into the constant disparagement of one’s adversary,” he said.
Despite differences over issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, Leo and Sánchez have found common ground on several international matters, including calls for diplomacy in global conflicts and criticism of policies that undermine multilateral cooperation.
Following a recent meeting with the pope at the Vatican, Sánchez described Leo’s voice as a moral guide in confronting injustice and defending human dignity.
The historic parliamentary address highlighted the pope’s growing role on the world stage as a moral advocate for peace, migration reform and social justice. It also demonstrated the enduring influence of the Catholic Church in Spain, even as the country continues its transformation into one of Europe’s most secular societies.
As lawmakers applauded and welcomed his message, Leo’s speech underscored his broader vision of politics grounded in human dignity, international cooperation and a renewed sense of ethical responsibility in public life.
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