Leo XIV started his visit by touring the residential facilities, where he listened to the testimonies of three people experiencing homelessness. The dormitory rooms, where 47 men sleep each night, were the first part of the center the Pope visited.

He then moved to the dining area, where he shared a light meal with 15 residents. One of them, Elmer León Calderón, a 60-year-old Peruvian, presented the Pope with a sign that read “Welcome to the Hall of Peace.” Elmer had owned a restaurant in Lima before instability in his country led him to migrate to Spain. Upon arriving in Madrid, he became the victim of a scam that left him without money, shelter, or support. For three months, he lived on a street corner along Vía Carpetana, surviving on two loaves of bread and four liters of water a day.

“I am León, and he is León. We share the same blood,” he said.

In the adjacent courtyard, 200 people representing different situations of social exclusion were waiting for the Pope. Among them was Niurka, a 33-year-old Cuban lawyer, who introduced her twin children, Ares and Atenea, born after a difficult period in her life.

“I arrived in Madrid alone and pregnant. I was very afraid. But the Church welcomed us. Today I look at my children and know that we can have a future,” she shared.

Khadry, a young Senegalese man who arrived in Spain during the pandemic, presented the Pope with a replica of his residence permit.

“When I arrived, I felt alone… I found people who welcomed me, treated me with respect, and made me feel that my life mattered.”

In his address, the Pope emphasized that within the Church, joy and suffering are shared experiences and that challenges must be faced together with charity and justice. He thanked those who shared their stories, noting that they reflected God’s love even in the midst of suffering. He also recalled that the motto “Lift Up Your Eyes” calls Christians to respond without delay to the needs of others.

He stressed that the love of Christ inspires charity as a concrete expression of faith and warned against allowing ideologies or worldly interests to distort judgment. He insisted that charity lies at the heart of the Church’s mission and that forgetting the poor means moving away from the Gospel.

“I am among you as one more citizen of Madrid,” he said, expressing his gratitude with the words, “Thank you, Madrid, for this welcome.”

Spanish singer Niña Pastori, who had previously performed for St. John Paul II in 2003, concluded the event with a moving musical performance. The Pope also received the “Tree of Hope,” a wooden sculpture whose leaves symbolize the desire for freedom and dignity.

Finally, the Pope visited the parish church, where, as a coordinator of Cáritas, I was able to be present. There he met 230 people representing more than 80 social organizations of the Archdiocese of Madrid.

“I am deeply grateful to all the organizations represented here. Thank you for the beautiful service you provide, because this is a sign of hope in today’s world,” he said.
Last year, CEDIA assisted 2,534 people, while Cáritas Madrid served more than 106,000 people.

Video – Many gathered to welcome Pope Leo XIV at Cáritas Madrid, where he highlighted the importance of charity and hope.