Pope Leo at Corpus Christi in Cibeles: «He is alive and continues to pass in our midst!»

The Cibeles square became the center of the life of the Church in Spain this Sunday with the celebration of the Holy Mass of the Corpus Christi presided over by Pope Leo XIV, a celebration that, according to the Pontiff, “is not just another feast in the liturgical calendar, but a return to the roots of faith to renew love and fidelity to God”.

Leo XIV traveled through the streets in a popemobile greeting the faithful, who awaited his arrival with enthusiasm and expectation. Once at the Palacio de Cibeles, seat of the Madrid City Hall, the mayor of the city, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, presented him with the Golden Key of Madrid. After signing the Book of Honor of the city, the Pope went to the sacristy to prepare for the liturgical celebration.

The Holy Mass began with the introductory rites and the greeting of the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal José Cobo Cano, who welcomed the Holy Father and the thousands of faithful gathered.

Pope invites us to live the Eucharist today

After the liturgy of the Word, Leo XIV focused his homily on the importance of the Eucharist as a transforming element and source of hope, pointing out that “it is not only a matter of taking out the monstrance, but of letting ourselves be taken out of selfishness, indifference, of a comfortable and private faith, to respond to his invitation to conversion, to change our gaze, to welcome his presence that transforms us and makes us builders of a new world”. 

Pope Leo emphasized that “the historical memory of the processions of the Corpus Christi does not allow itself to be imprisoned by a nostalgic memory; it becomes, instead, an invitation for today”. Thus, he commends to Spain “that the religiosity that for centuries has animated this country is not a museum of the past to visit, but a school of faith from which to draw today”.”

The Pope invites us to remember, as the first reading said, who the Lord is, the one who brought you out of Egypt, “so as not to fall into the temptation of trusting in other idols and feeding on bread that does not satisfy”. 

Leo XIV concluded his homily by naming Manuel Gonzalez, whose life reminds us that the Eucharist should not be lived only in great celebrations or occasionally, but also in the silent fidelity of one who accompanies the Lord with a humble and discreet friendship that is nourished day by day.

«Jesus the Eucharist is a fountain that flows and quenches thirst, but without dazzling, without imposing itself with external power, without presenting itself in a spectacular way,» the Pontiff affirmed before the faithful.

He also made a call to drink again from the fountain of the Eucharist “which does not enclose us in a private devotion, but sends us to water our brothers and sisters, families, the poor, those who suffer, those who have lost hope”.

Communion

The celebration was attended by about 500 concelebrating priests and a symphonic choir of about 400 musicians and singers.

One of the main logistical challenges was the distribution of communion. For this, the Archdiocese of Madrid prepared nearly 460,000 consecrated forms, distributed by 1,800 extraordinary ministers of communion, supported by hundreds of volunteers identified to facilitate the organization among the crowd.

In addition, several churches in the center of Madrid remained open throughout the morning to serve the faithful and facilitate the reception of communion, including the parish of San José, the basilica of Jesús de Medinaceli, San Jerónimo el Real, San Manuel and San Benito and Santa Bárbara.

A procession among floral carpets

After the Eucharistic celebration, the Corpus Christi procession began, which went along Alcalá Street to the vicinity of the church of San José and then returned to the Plaza de Cibeles for the solemn blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.

One of the highlights of the tour were the floral carpets made by the Association of Alfombristas do Corpus Christi de Ponteareas. More than 180 people participated in the making of 16 large carpets distributed along more than 500 meters of Alcalá Street.

The compositions, made with more than 30,000 white and yellow carnations, incorporated Eucharistic motifs and symbols linked to the Petrine ministry, including the Sacred Form and the Keys of St. Peter.

Faith takes to the streets

The procession went through one of the main arteries of Madrid amidst songs, moments of prayer and displays of popular devotion. Families, young people, religious, pilgrims and visitors accompanied the passing of the Blessed Sacrament in an atmosphere of recollection and joy.

Before concluding the celebration, Leo XIV said a prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and then imparted the Eucharistic blessing to the entire city and the faithful gathered.