ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE FROM ROME TO MADRID (CNS) -- Before touching down in Spain for his fourth apostolic journey abroad, Pope Leo XIV told reporters traveling with him that his plan was to meet with all facets of society: Catholics, young people, migrants, the poor and regular citizens.

"The Church has a message for everyone," he said in Spanish June 6, offering special greetings to journalists from Spain and those from other nations. "Thank you very much for your service."

The pope's June 6-12 visit to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands also comes at a time when the capital is hosting a major sporting event, -- Real Madrid is facing La Laguna Tenerife in Game 3 of their quarterfinal series --and the Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who performed at the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, Bad Bunny, is playing six concert dates, kicking off his Spain tour the evening of the pope's arrival.

Aware that the star's shows are scheduled around the same time as the pope's prayer vigil with youth June 6 and meeting representatives of the "world of culture, art and sport" June 7, the pope said it will be interesting to see those young people who will still choose to see the pope. 

"If they are confronted with the question: do they want to see Bad Bunny or do they want to see the pope, I think many will see Bad Bunny. But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope. And that says something, you know," he said in English.

Asked about reports of an increase in young people joining the Catholic Church, the pope said he was "very pleased by the reports." According to a recent blog from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, about half of Gen-Z raised Catholic retain that identity into adulthood.

Young people who are "looking for something more," he said, often have grown up without a "spiritual dimension in their lives. They realize there's an emptiness and a lack of a sense of meaning, and perhaps my visiting is helping to awaken" something further that they may still not be able to define.

While he has visited Spain many times, particularly during his 12 years as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he said he was looking forward to visiting this predominantly Catholic though increasingly-secularized country as pope: "to meet the faithful, celebrate the faith, proclaim the message of Jesus Christ."

Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands June 6-12, visiting migrants and the poor as well as the royal family, dignitaries, representatives of the world of culture, sports and politicians, becoming the first pope to address the Spanish parliament in Madrid. 

He will also meet privately with survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. Cases of abuse, he told one reporter, "are still an open wound," adding that it was "unfortunately impossible to meet everyone that wanted" a papal audience.

He told the pool reporter that he always "fought against" known cases of abuse wherever he was serving and would continue to do so as pope.

Pope Leo will lead many events with the nation's Catholics, and one of the highlights will be his blessing of the recently-completed central tower of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, which now makes it the tallest church in the world at nearly 535 feet. The event also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí.

But, at the same time, he was going to "greet everyone, all of society, because the Church has a message for everyone, as you have seen this very clearly, I believe, in the encyclical letter" published May 25 on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, he said in his main remarks.

The trip will be an opportunity to discover the "great enthusiasm" of the people, Pope Leo told reporters on the plane.

"There are many Catholics here, and I especially want to highlight the presence of young people," he said. 

"By everyone sharing the joy of the faith, we can send a very positive message," he said, of "God's love, of charity, of respect for every human being."

The pope then walked down the aisle of the plane, greeting each of the 80 journalists individually, answering their questions, taking selfies and accepting gifts, such as a small wooden cross made from the wreckage of boats that had been carrying migrants to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where he will visit July 4.

One French reporter reminded him that June 6 marked the anniversary of "D-Day," when American, British and Canadian forces invaded Normandy, France, to free Western Europe of Nazi occupation during World War II. Asked whether he would like to visit the region to bring a message of peace, the pope said, "Yes, my father was there," serving in the Navy and taking part in the landings.

Asked if he will support the United States soccer team during the FIFA World Cup this summer, he replied, "I will certainly support the U.S., though I am not sure how many games I will be able to see."

When asked which of the two highest-ranked Spanish squads he was a fan of: Real Madrid or Barcelona, he responded: "That's easy...the pope is for all teams, but Prevost is Real Madrid!"

St. Norbert was born at Xanten in the Rhineland, about the year 1080. The early part of his life was devoted to the world and its pleasures. He entered upon the ecclesiastical state in a worldly spirit. The thunderstorm had boiled up suddenly as Norbert was out riding. Norbert, who had always chosen the easy way, would never have deliberately gone on a journey that promised danger, risk, or discomfort. He had moved easily from the comforts of the noble family he was born into at about 1080 ...

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