Pope Leo XIV Encourages Spanish Youth to Embrace Faith Amid Personal Struggles

Pope Leo XIV visited Barcelona on Tuesday and encouraged Spain’s youth to remain steadfast in their faith. The evening rally, held at the Olympic stadium, was marked by candid discussions on depression, domestic violence, and challenging family relationships.

The pope, born in the U.S., received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd of 40,000. People cheered as he drove around in his popemobile, stopping occasionally to bless babies or perform his signature “6-7” hand gesture.

The event included tributes to Catalan culture. Spectators witnessed a demonstration by castellers, the renowned human tower acrobats. An eight-tiered tower earned applause from the pope as a child reached the summit and waved before descending.

During a prayer vigil, Pope Leo spoke in Catalan more than expected. He engaged in a question-and-answer session with young adults on topics like depression and family violence.

“In those dark hours, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus shared our pain and revealed to us the face of a compassionate God, who bears our sorrows, who suffers with us, weeps our tears and remains at our side with his presence full of love and mercy,” said Leo.

One young woman shared her story of a suicide attempt and the darkness of depression. Another spoke of her father’s attempt to murder her mother and her years in juvenile detention. Pope Leo thanked them for their openness, attributing their struggles to societal pressures for perfection and the silencing of pain.

He also highlighted the impact of toxic family environments. He stated that many young people’s issues stem from abusive family dynamics and normalized domestic violence. He emphasized society’s responsibility to address these problems and advocated for improved mental health and domestic violence services.

Pope Leo’s message of hope reflects a renewed spiritual interest among young Spaniards. Patricia Garzón, 25, who attended the event, expressed how her faith helps her navigate daily challenges exacerbated by social media comparisons.

The pinnacle of Leo’s visit will be on Wednesday when he inaugurates the new central Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica.