BARCELONA, Spain — During a Tuesday evening youth gathering in Barcelona, Pope Leo XIV delivered an encouraging message to Spanish young people while addressing difficult topics including mental health struggles and family violence in unusually direct terms.
The American-born pontiff was greeted enthusiastically by crowds at Barcelona’s Olympic stadium during the second day of his week-long Spanish tour, which has attracted large audiences despite the nation’s increasingly secular culture.
Approximately 40,000 attendees cheered loudly as Leo appeared in his popemobile, circling the stadium grounds. The crowd responded with excitement each time he paused to offer blessings to infants or performed his characteristic “6-7” hand signal that has become his trademark.
The gathering included tributes to local Catalan traditions, featuring a performance by the area’s renowned human tower performers called castellers. The pope applauded appreciatively as the acrobats formed an eight-story human structure, with the smallest participant climbing to the summit before descending.
Leo delivered portions of his remarks in Catalan beyond what was originally planned during the prayer service that included a dialogue with young participants. While such interactions are typically prepared beforehand and common during papal visits, Tuesday’s session stood out for its unflinching examination of serious issues.
A young woman shared with Leo her experience with a suicide attempt and the “darkness” she faced during periods of depression. Another participant described her father’s attempt to murder her mother and her own time spent in youth detention facilities, asking how she might find forgiveness for her father.
Leo expressed gratitude to the young people for their openness in sharing their experiences publicly. He attributed their struggles to societal pressures that expect youth to be perfect while suppressing “moments of darkness and suffering.”
The pope drew parallels between what he termed the “silent illness” of youth depression and Christ’s suffering during crucifixion.
“In those dark hours, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus shared our pain and revealed to us the face of a compassionate God, who bears our sorrows, who suffers with us, weeps our tears and remains at our side with his presence full of love and mercy,” Leo said.
However, he also pointed to abusive household environments where domestic violence becomes accepted as a root cause of many challenges facing contemporary youth.
“So many crime reports, even today, reflect a toxic climate in family relationships marked by abuse and oppression and, in particular, by violence against women, which unfortunately often leads to femicide,” Leo said.
Leo encouraged young attendees to seek comfort through their faith. He received applause when he called for improved healthcare services and enhanced support for mental health issues and domestic violence situations.
“We are all called to address this dramatic reality, both personally and as a society, because we are responsible for confronting it in all its dimensions,” he said.
Throughout his Spanish visit, Leo has focused on delivering messages of hope to the country’s youth. Spain was historically a predominantly Catholic nation but experienced a decline in religious observance following the end of its 20th-century dictatorship and transition to democratic governance.
Church leaders and social researchers have recently noted signs suggesting renewed spiritual interest among Spain’s younger generation, with informal reports indicating increased conversion rates among young adults.
Patricia Garzón, a 25-year-old attendee at the prayer gathering with her friend, explained how faith supports her daily life.
“I believe that it is more difficult (for young people) today because before social media didn’t exist, and today we are constantly comparing ourselves with one another (online),” she said. “And we need someone from above to help us, to help us see that he loves us for who we are, not how others want us to see ourselves.”
The most significant moment of Leo’s Spanish tour will occur Wednesday when he dedicates the towering central Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica.
