Cardinal Parolin: Pope in Spain to foster communion and encounter

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Spain for his fourth international journey, taking him to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin explains its significance to Vatican News.

The logo of the Apostolic Journey to Spain—an open circle formed by human figures united with one another and oriented upwards—already reveals the Holy Father’s intention. As the Pastor of the Catholic Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of goodwill. With everyone, he seeks to encourage, promote and strengthen, ever more deeply, communion and encounter. This unfolds in a twofold movement: within the Church and within society.

It is not simply a matter of being together, but of walking together toward a common destination. We should also emphasise the unique gift that the Church longs to offer humanity: the invitation to welcome the answers that Jesus Christ gives to the profound questions every human being asks about the meaning of life, death and suffering. Christ offers us the possibility of attaining that fullness of humanity which we Christians call eternal life. This, in turn, becomes the source of the hope and joy with which the Holy Father seeks to serve humanity and encourage Christians.