The Pope rejects the "national priority" of PP and Vox and amends Europe's rearmament

MadridFor the first time in history, the Pope has delivered a speech to the Congress of Deputies. In an amphitheater dressed in gala for the occasion and on a visit that he wanted to serve as a "gesture of closeness" towards Spain, Leo XIV has re-entered fully into the Spanish political debate to fundamentally amend the postulates of the far-right regarding immigration. He referred again to the "tragic migratory drama" and reproached the "national priority" that the PP and Vox have recently agreed upon in the autonomous communities. "Where a person is discriminated against based on their national, ethnic, religious, or linguistic origin, the universal principle of the equal dignity of all human beings is seriously violated," he proclaimed. "The situation of migrants and refugees demands a response that looks at people," he added. Likewise, he put forward a "double demand for social justice" with immigrants: they must be offered "safe and legal pathways", a "respectful welcome", and "real integration opportunities", and, in parallel, the "right to remain in their own land" must be promoted by working to ensure that "no one has to leave their home". Precisely on Thursday, the Pope will travel to the Canary Islands, which are the final destination of Europe's most dangerous migratory route.

From Congress, among others, the leaders of PP and Vox, Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Santiago Abascal, were listening, long aware of the Pope's positions against restrictions on the rights of immigrants. This has not prevented them so far from introducing the "national priority" in the three regional investiture pacts they have already signed and reinforcing measures in the same vein in exchange for the budget agreement in the Valencian Community.

"From conception to natural sunset"The Pope's speech also made references to the international context, hit by the wars in Ukraine, Iran, and Palestine. "It is concerning that, in various parts of the world, and also in Europe, rearmament is once again presented as an almost inevitable response to the fragility of the international scene," lamented Leo XIV, who called for "diplomatic courage" to achieve peace far from weapons and appealed to "resolve controversies through the peaceful paths offered by international law." "Weapons can impose a temporary silence, but they can never build an authentic and lasting peace," he stated. And, as he did after landing in Madrid, he set tasks for the political class to avoid polarization: "Political plurality should not degenerate into permanent disqualification of the adversary."

"From conception to natural sunset"

Leo XIV has also lashed out against the right to abortion and euthanasia, two of the pillars of Pedro Sánchez's roadmap from the last legislature. In fact, the lower house is currently processing a reform of the Constitution promoted by Moncloa to safeguard abortion. "Every human life must be recognized and guarded from conception to its natural sunset, in every circumstance of its existence," the Pope proclaimed from the rostrum of the Congress. "When this certainty is obscured, the most vulnerable are the first victims. The moral greatness of a nation is manifested in its capacity to accompany, protect, and love those lives that experience greater fragility," he added. "Can a community that leaves the unborn child in the shadows be called fully just?" he asked.

Francina Armengol bets on "union" and "agreement"

The President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, has also spoken, defending that "strength rests on unity and agreement" and calling for "understanding" between institutions and cultures as something "essential to face the great challenges". She also alluded to the international context: "There is no other choice but to gather around the essential and reformulate measures that commit us to the configuration of a more just world".

Meeting with Pedro Sánchez

Before visiting Congress, the Pope met for half an hour with Pedro Sánchez at the Apostolic Nunciature. The Spanish president, who was met with shouts of "chorizo" by a group of citizens waiting for him at the door, presented him with a Spanish olive tree bonsai as a representation of "the perfect balance between tradition and innovation" and "between respect for historical roots and the adoption of technological avant-garde" and as a "universal symbol of peace, dialogue, and understanding".