Pope Leo XIV lands in Spain this Saturday and, with him, high temperatures also arrive. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the hottest days will be Sunday 7 and Monday 8, with maximums around 34 °C in Madrid. During these days, the pontiff has different outdoor events on his agenda that could put in a tight spot the faithful who gather to attend the calls. Not only because of the temperatures, but also because of the large concentration of people attending them. According to organizers’ figures, there are more than 600,000 registered to participate in the mass events.
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The Holy Father has more than 20 activities scheduled during his visit to the peninsula —from June 6 to 12—. Of these, at least eight are planned to take place outdoors: in esplanades, avenues, stadiums, and ports; it is there where the heat can work against attendees.
Madrid
Pope Leo XIV arrives in the Spanish capital on Saturday, June 6. There he will preside, among other events, over a vigil with young people from all over Spain in Plaza de Lima. The event, which will extend for 2.6 kilometers along Paseo de la Castellana, is expected to be attended by 220,000 people, according to registration records. For this day, thermometers will mark a minimum of 18 °C and a maximum of 31.
On Sunday, the heat will be more intense and will extend into Monday. Temperatures will not drop below 21 °C in the city center and will reach up to 34 °C. This will be a day to take extreme precautions regarding the heat. The first mass in Spain will take place in front of the Palacio de Cibeles at 10:00, where the presence of up to 300,000 faithful is estimated.
For Monday 8, the only outdoor event is a meeting with the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. However, the pontiff’s agenda also includes a mass at La Almudena Cathedral, where the concentration of people outside the venue could generate a higher perceived temperature than expected.
Barcelona
In the Catalan capital, the weather will offer a respite. Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday 9 with a forecast of partly cloudy skies, a breeze, and a generally muggy feeling. Minimum temperatures will be around 20 degrees in the center of Barcelona on both days, and maximums will reach about 25 to 27 °C.
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That Tuesday, the pontiff will preside over a prayer at 13:00 in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and for the afternoon, the second vigil of the day is scheduled at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, which will gather about 40,000 people. On Wednesday 10, the only mass activity will be a mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, where the presence of 8,000 faithful is expected —divided inside and outside the venue—.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are Pope Leo XIV’s last stop in Spain. His arrival is scheduled for Thursday 11. Aemet indicates that there is some uncertainty regarding the weather forecast a week away. However, the Agency anticipates that trade winds are likely to prevail, which are common in the Canary Islands and responsible for keeping temperatures mild.
For this day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, temperatures are expected to range between 18 and 20 °C for minimums and 23 and 25 °C for maximums. There, Leo XIV will meet with immigrant associations in the port of Arguineguín at noon, and in the afternoon, the third mass of the visit will take place at the Gran Canaria Stadium, with a concentration of about 45,000 people.
On Friday 12, on his last day of travel through Spain, the pontiff will visit Tenerife, where minimum temperatures will range between 13 and 15 °C and maximums between 18 and 20. On the island, two open-air events will take place: a meeting with immigrants in the Plaza de Cristo de La Laguna at 10:00 and the last eucharistic celebration of this trip in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at noon.
