Lessons from Pope Leo's Visit to Spain: “Be the Spark of a New Humanity”

Sep 16

Mr. Fernando Ramos with fellow pilgrims.

A little over a year ago, I completed my second stint as a Spanish teacher at Salesianum School and returned to my home and position in Madrid. I still remember the joy of my students at "Sallies" when they discovered that, for the first time in history, the new pope was American—and the surprise of finding out that one of my colleagues had actually studied with him at Villanova.

To add to the coincidence, my older sister (an Augustinian nun in Talavera de la Reina, Spain) and the sisters at the Monasterio de la Conversión (where I take my students on retreat a couple of times a year) also knew him. The Pope suddenly felt very close, and to top it off, he spoke fluent Spanish.

Serving with the campus ministry and faith formation groups at our school in Madrid is a true privilege. As soon as the papal visit to Madrid was officially announced for June 2026, we didn't hesitate: we got straight to work and registered a total of 300 students and family members. The main events were a youth vigil attended by half a million young people and a family Eucharist that drew 1.2 million.

On the day of the vigil, about 150 students from our school gathered and excitedly made our way to Paseo de la Castellana, near Real Madrid’s stadium, to eagerly await the Holy Father. The heat was intense, but our faith was stronger. Young people had gathered from every corner of Spain, across Europe, around the world, and even a few American exchange students at our school joined us.

Pope Leo arrives at Paseo de la Castellana.

After hours of waiting—filled with live music and activities—the Holy Father arrived in the Popemobile. It was a powerful moment to see him pass so close, so humble, representing Jesus and blessing us all. During the prayer, the silence and openheartedness were palpable.

The Pope shared many messages with the youth, but three stood out to me.

First, he asked us to make space for silence in a world where we never stop listening, watching, and interacting for even a second, reminding us to leave room to hear God.

Second, he reminded us that as Christians, we will never be alone. He urged us to look around and really see one another: "Look at all these people! You will never be alone!" Looking out at such a diverse crowd united by God's love made us realize that we are all brothers and sisters, surrounded by community. This message was profoundly important, as loneliness is a growing problem that affects so many young people today—paradoxically, even when their lives are packed with constant plans.

Third, and what impacted my students most, was his direct call to action: he invited us to be real people—flesh and blood—far removed from the artificial standards of social media. He challenged them to "be the spark of a new humanity" and step up to change history through faith, love, and service.

A few days after the visit, one of my students managed to get tickets to a concert by Bad Bunny, an artist he had been wanting to see for years. When he returned, I asked how it was. He said: "I loved it, but the Pope's visit was better!"

This made me reflect on his message. Beyond passing trends, our hearts crave lasting truths that guide us through life and inspire us to be that spark for others. Now, I’m planning a trip to take my students to see the Pope in Rome—hopefully, we can secure an audience with him, spend time together, receive his blessing, and tell him that I know some of his friends!

In addition to Madrid, the Pope also visited the Canary Islands and Barcelona, where he attended the inauguration and blessing of the final section of Gaudí's Sagrada Família—the famous "Architect of God," who is currently in the process of canonization. I have many stories about this magnificent building that I'll save for another article. For now, I want to leave you with a gift: search online for “Full video of Pope Leo XIV blessing the Tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Familia Basilica” and enjoy a truly unique spectacle! One hundred years after his death, Gaudí was able to look down from heaven and behold his completed masterpiece alongside the Pope. Enjoy it!