BARCELONA, Spain (CNS) -- Flying from Spain's capital of Madrid to Barcelona June 9, Pope Leo XIV shifted his focus to the deeper and darker existential questions punctuating human life.

In Madrid -- the seat of government, the monarchy and finance as well as home to world-famous art, culture and sport -- the pope highlighted the gifts that Spain and its people already possess; saying they need to work together in their diversity to protect human dignity in order to thrive and address the many political, economic and social challenges they face. 

From the political center of Spain, Pope Leo traveled to Barcelona, the country's second-largest city and the capital of Catalonia, a region with a distinct language and culture that has long been home to a movement seeking greater autonomy or independence from Spain. Tensions escalated in 2017 after Catalan leaders organized an independence referendum that Madrid opposed and Spanish courts later ruled unconstitutional.

His remarks throughout his time in Barcelona built on a broader message: that human dignity does not depend on success, productivity or a flawless past, and that God does not abandon people in suffering or define them by their mistakes.

"We must question the dynamics of our society, the culture of individualism and the temptation of violence -- but not God," he said June 9 at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

While Pope Leo did not touch on current political or cultural debates there, he did read substantial portions of his written texts in Catalan, a regional language spoken in northeastern Spain. When he stumbled with its complex sounds, he received loud, appreciative applause from the crowds at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, which was named after a former president of the autonomous region who was imprisoned by the Spanish Republic, exiled and then shot by General Francisco Franco's authoritarian regime. 

He urged the 40,000 faithful in the stadium for a prayer vigil June 9 to reflect "on our personal journey, as well as on the 'nights' of our journey as a Church and those of Spain -- its cities, its old and new forms of poverty, its society and culture."

"At times, we experience the night of faith, the weariness of believing, the fatigue of the spirit, a sense of inadequacy in the face of the Gospel's call, the bitterness of our failures and the fear of not measuring up," he said in his homily. 

The preoccupation with failure and being forsaken was clear in the painful stories three young people shared with the pope and the crowd: one young man had lived feeling "immense emptiness"; one young woman had attempted suicide; and another spent time in foster care and juvenile detention after her father had tried to kill her mother.

"Sometimes I look up to heaven and ask God, 'Where were you when I was a little girl?'" she told the pope at the stadium.

In his response, the pope asked people to reconsider who's really to blame. "Should we ask, 'Where was God?' Or should we ask ourselves about humanity?" 

Each of the three young people ended their testimonies with questions of advice to the pope on the very struggles they shared. 

"He has endowed us with intelligence and will, given us a conscience," he said in his lengthy responses, encouraging people to take responsibility to confront injustices "both personally and as a society."

At the same time, Pope Leo forcefully admonished any attempts to "spiritualize pain, superficially attributing it to 'God's will' or to some mysterious plan of his, because this risks minimizing that suffering, silencing it and hurting people."

"God does not want suffering. He carries it with us and invites us to trust in him with perseverance," he said, because "with God, life is always reborn." 

On the other hand, he said, moments of darkness and suffering must never be silenced just "because certain cultural norms demand that we always be victorious and perfect."

Pope Leo noted an apparent correlation between increased mental health issues and a "deeply wrong" strain of constant progress prevalent in modern society that "subjects people to pressures, expectations and tensions that compromise healthy balances." He also called for "a healthcare system that prioritizes this invisible and widespread malaise" of depression.

A "healthy sense of restlessness" must be cultivated instead of chasing relentlessly after profit, performance and perfection, he said. "When people learn to pause and value what is important … allowing themselves to be enlightened by the Gospel, they also develop a critical perspective on a social system that does not put people first."

The pope also reached out to those marginalized in the prison system when he visited the city's "Brians 1" penitentiary. 

From the sunny exterior of the prison where birds chirped from green trees, incarcerated women shouted from the windows, "God bless you!" and "Long live the pope!" when he arrived early June 10. In the dim, dark gray-walled hall, brightened by white flowers on the stage, the pope listened to two women share their stories of loss, anger and finding peace.

"God loves you just as you are, but he dreams of you being even better!" he said. "The Lord allows us all to start anew, for being human and being Christian does not mean never making mistakes, but rather growing in the ability to convert, repent, make amends and, above all, to reconcile and forgive."

In fact, "we too are called not to judge the 'nights' -- neither the nights of our own lives, those of the Church, nor those of the society around us," he said in his homily at the prayer service June 9.

The darkness is a sign to keep searching, asking God questions and being open to the work of the Holy Spirit, he said. "We must welcome the night no longer as a sign of failure, but as the beginning of a new life."

That new life requires putting down one's protective and sometimes violent "armor," much like St. Ignatius of Loyola did after he prayed at the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, housed in a sanctuary of the same name, and gave up his life as a soldier.

At the same sanctuary and Benedictine monastery, built into the jagged mountain range northwest of the city, Pope Leo said, Jesus "exposes the violence that can lurk in our words and attitudes: criticism that humiliates, condemnation that destroys and aggression that divides."

"That hidden violence can often disguise itself as a kind of armor, which we use to protect our wounds, our fears and the suffering caused by injustice," he said. 

The pope made no mention of clergy sex abuse while he was in Barcelona, even though the Montserrat monastery has come to symbolize the scandal in Spain after multiple victims came forward starting in 2019, reporting decades of abuse by the monks. Just two months before the pope's visit, the Catholic Church and Spain's government agreed on a compensation program for abuse victims.

When meeting with diocesan charities and aid organizations at the Church of San Agustí in Barcelona June 10, one volunteer told the pope they recognize their limitations and do not try to "fix" people's lives; their aim is to "never turn their backs" on anyone needing help.  

Pope Leo told them that Christians must be kind, gentle, compassionate, selfless "and seek the good of others, knowing that in every brother and sister who suffers it is the Lord himself." 

The pope spent most of that address responding to Renzo, a 6-year-old boy, who asked the pope light-hearted curiosities, like whether he liked soccer, and serious queries about homelessness, poverty and forgiveness.

In this small, poor parish, made up of many immigrants and missionaries, Pope Leo was in his element, comfortably going from being playful -- speaking off-the-cuff and making his audience laugh -- to being more solemn and sticking to prepared remarks "so we do not get sidetracked."  

There were many moments the pope's fun side shone through, like when, prompted by kids in the Olympic stadium, he gestured the "6-7" meme. He sat in the cockpit for part of the flight to Barcelona and radioed the pilot of a Spanish air force fighter jet escorting the papal plane, and he met with Bad Bunny before leaving Madrid after teasing reporters that the U.S. singer might outshine him with their overlapping events.

The trip's motto of "Lift up your gaze" became literal at the pope's final event in Barcelona with the blessing of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia's central tower, which makes it the tallest church in the world.

Standing at 566 feet high and topped by a glass and white enameled cross to reflect sunlight by day and glow at night, it was lit up during a stunning light and fireworks show to celebrate the pope's blessing and the 100th anniversary of the death of its architect, the venerable Antoni Gaudí.

As the Montserrat choir sang and music reached a crescendo, thousands of small hollow "towers" left on spectators' seats suddenly turned on and glowed in tandem with the lights glowing in the church. People immediately held aloft the small lights, which were remotely controlled to create waves and pulsate, evoking a larger living being, shining in harmony with the church and others.

The basilica is "a sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain" and to "lift their gaze to encounter the face of God the Father, shining forth in his Son made man," the pope said in his homily during Mass inside the basilica.

Construction of the massive edifice began in 1882. It survived two World Wars, a civil war, anarchist attacks and unsteady funding. The basilica remains "a work in progress today, reminding us that the Christian life is always a journey," the pope said. Each Christian is a "living stone" in the edifice of the Church and that, too, is a project that God is still carrying out, he said. 

His final message to the city was that holiness is not about perfection but about allowing God to continue his work within us, even amid mistakes, setbacks and suffering. 

"Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this work consists in our very lives, which God  conceives as a masterpiece that we are to create together, and he calls us to collaborate with him."

 

All we know of Barnabas is to be found in the New Testament. A Jew, born in Cyprus and named Joseph, he sold his property, gave the proceeds to the Apostles, who gave him the name Barnabas, and lived in common with the earliest converts to Christianity in Jerusalem. He persuaded the community there to accept Paul as a disciple, was sent to Antioch, Syria, to look into the community there, and brought Paul there from Tarsus. With Paul he brought Antioch's donation to the Jerusalem community ...

At a meeting with migrants and the organisations that rescue and accompany them in Gran Canaria, Pope Leo urges the world not to grow indifferent to their suffering and calls for legal and safe migration pathways, denounces human trafficking and exploitation, and insists that “human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border.”

Read all

 

When Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Church of Sant Augustin (Agustí Nou) in Barcelona's El Raval neighbourhood, he was being hosted, so to speak, by his brothers – four Augustinians who serve the at the Church in Barcelona. This small Augustinian community comprises two Filipinos and two Tanzanians. Vatican News spoke with the Prior, Fr. Dennis Pineda – originally from the Philippines, but with over 16 years of pastoral ministry and presence in Spain.

Read all

 

Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in the Canary Islands—the landing place for thousands of migrants coming from one of the deadliest migratory routes in the world. The local Caritas works with volunteers to “be by the side of the most vulnerable” and help offer a new life to those who make it to shore.

Read all

 

Describing the Basilica as a catechesis made of stone, color, and light, the Pope emphasized that those who believe cannot kill innocent people nor abandon those who suffer, who weep, who flee from poverty.

Read all

 

At a meeting with Diocesan Charity and Welfare organisations in Barcelona, Pope Leo XIV answers a young boy's questions about suffering, forgiveness and the meaning of life, reminding Christians that authentic charity begins with recognising Christ in every person.

Read all

 

ORLANDO, Fla. – During their June Plenary Assembly, the bishops of the United States held a canonical consultation on a cause of beatification and canonization for the Servant of God John Rick Miller, a family man, businessman, and international missionary. He dedicated his missionary efforts to promoting the consecration and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, and Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami facilitated the bishops’ discussion. By a voice vote, the bishops expressed their support for advancing the cause of beatification and canonization on the diocesan level.

The following biography of Mr. Miller was drawn from information provided by the Archdiocese of Miami:

John Rick Miller was born on July 10, 1948, in New York. His family was of French-Canadian descent, and among his ancestors were St. Margaret D'Youville and St. André Bessette. It is said that he developed a deep sense of God and the Catholic faith at an early age, largely due to the influence of his paternal grandparents.

Mr. Miller studied at the Catholic Institute of Mount of the Assumption and graduated from Peru Senior High School in Peru, New York. He entered Paul Smith College in Hudson Falls, New York, to study restaurant and hotel management, and worked in business and quickly rose through the ranks at several prominent corporations. 

In 1984, he married Noella Bidoor Samson in Bahrain, and on July 2, 1986, they welcomed their twin children, Alexandra and Jonathan.

Although he had drifted away from the Catholic faith since his college years, in 1988, he experienced a personal encounter with God after a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine, which led him back to the faith and sparked his passion for bringing God’s love to the world. In 1989, Mr. Miller established numerous prayer cenacles across different countries. He served as a catechist in Cairo, Egypt, from 1993 to 1997. In 1998, while in London, he co-founded the “Apostolate of St. Joseph,” an international Catholic organization dedicated to strengthening the family under the patronage of St. Joseph and St. Monica. In 2001, he established the “Confraternity of Our Lady” at the historic Willesden National Marian Shrine, with members praying for the protection and conversion of London. 

In 2007, Mr. Miller broadened his evangelization efforts to India, where he, in collaboration with the Pallottine Order, developed plans to build Catholic shrines honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also traveled to Colombia, where, after prayerful reflection, he felt moved to lead efforts to consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On October 12, 2008, the country renewed its consecration to the Sacred Heart, and for the first time, the Church consecrated the country to Mary. This revival of faith inspired many of his followers to establish prayer cenacles and promote perpetual adoration. Word spread quickly, and in the months and years that followed, he was invited to Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama.

In 2009, he established the “Mission for the Love of God Worldwide,” a lay Catholic group dedicated to rekindling awareness of God’s presence through consecration, personal conversion, and prayer. Over time, the ministry expanded to 21 locations globally, with a strong presence in Central and South America. Inspired by his invitation, multiple countries also conducted consecrations to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 2011, the Catholic Conference of Bishops of Ecuador officially recognized the mission as a private association of the faithful.

Mr. Miller received many honors from leaders of the Church in Colombia and Mexico for his work and dedication to the conversion of souls. He died on May 30, 2015, from esophageal cancer. His remains rest beneath the esplanade outside the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral, Florida, which has become a pilgrimage destination for the faithful.

More biographical information can be found at: www.porelamordediosentodoelmundo.org/en

###

WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend F. Richard Spencer, 75, from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop for the Military Services, USA.

The resignation was publicized in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States. 

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA provides pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the armed forces of the United States, Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, and the dependents of those retired or on active duty. 

###

ORLANDO, Fla. – During their June Plenary Assembly, the bishops of the United States held a canonical consultation on a possible cause of beatification and canonization for Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh, a diocesan missionary priest who spent decades evangelizing and serving the spiritual needs of Indigenous communities and frontier settlers in remote parts of northern Minnesota in the late 1800s.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, and Bishop Daniel J. Felton of the Diocese of Duluth, facilitated the bishops' discussion. By a voice vote, the bishops expressed their support for advancing the cause of beatification and canonization on the diocesan level.

The following biography of Monsignor Buh was drawn from information provided by the Diocese of Duluth:

Joseph Francis Buh was born on March 17, 1833, in Zadobje, Slovenia. He is said to have shown profound piety and a strong desire to become a priest from a very young age. He entered seminary and excelled academically, becoming fluent in Polish, Latin, French, and German. His language skills would later aid his missionary work. While in seminary, he learned about the work of Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga in the United States, prompting a desire to serve as a missionary in the United States.

Father Buh was ordained to the priesthood in Slovenia for the Diocese of Ljubljana on July 25, 1858. Due to a shortage of priests, his requests to assist Bishop Baraga’s apostolic efforts in the United States were not immediately approved by his bishop, and he served in his home diocese for six years. During that time, he published two prayer books that later helped fund his missionary work.

In 1864, Father Buh was invited by Father Franz Pierz to undertake missionary work among Native Americans in Minnesota. With the approval of his bishop, Father Buh arrived in Saint Paul, Minnesota on May 27, 1864, and immersed himself in the life, language, and culture of the Ojibwe people. For over 25 years, he traveled extensively throughout northern Minnesota and the Iron Range, serving nine missions in Ely, Two Harbors, Biwabik, Hibbing, Virginia, Mountain Iron, McKinley, Eveleth, and the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa on Lake Vermilion. He provided pastoral care to numerous Indigenous and new immigrant communities from Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, and Ireland, among others, who settled in the area.

When the Diocese of Duluth was established in 1890, Bishop James McGolrick appointed Father Buh as chancellor and vicar general of the diocese. During his time in Duluth, he sought to address the needs of the growing communities, including establishing the first Slovenian newspaper in the United States. During the Panic of 1893 and the economic depression, Father Buh created a relief station and boarding house for the unemployed. To address the exploitation of migrant mine workers, he helped form the American Slovene Catholic Union, an organization that continues its work today in parishes across the United States.

Recognizing his extraordinary service to the Church, Pope Leo XIII named Father Buh a Domestic Prelate, earning him the title of “Monsignor” in 1899. The following year, Monsignor Buh returned to the pastoral care of the mission in Ely, which he continued for 18 years. When Bishop McGolrick died in 1918, Monsignor Buh was appointed as diocesan administrator, guiding the local Church until Bishop John McNicholas, O.P., was named Bishop of Duluth. In 1921, in honor of his decades of mentoring young priests, the diocese opened the Buh Mission House, a place where priests could live in community and be formed by his example of apostolic poverty.

Monsignor Buh died on February 2, 1922, at the age of 88.

During his sixty-four years of priesthood, Monsignor Buh founded or incorporated fifty-seven parishes, published books and newspapers, organized social outreach, and fostered a fraternal movement that continues to benefit Catholic families today. His local town acknowledged his contributions by naming it Buh Township in his honor in 1894.

Monsignor Buh saw Christ in those he ministered to – the miners, mothers, Indigenous communities, and immigrants. His tireless missionary zeal serves as a reminder today to trust God completely, meet people where they are, and bring them to Christ with humility and joy. 

More biographical information on Monsignor Buh can be found at: www.josephbuh.org

###