More than half a million registered for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain 

In less than a week, Leo XIV will land in Spain in what is his first trip to a large Western nation, with a Catholic majority, and which is marked by the large influx of people who will travel to Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria or Tenerife, to meet the Holy Father.  

Fernando Giménez Barriocanal highlighted the more than 550,000 registrations for all the events, especially those taking place in the Spanish capital. 

More than 25 million euros total budget 

Giménez Barriocanal also wanted to announce the total budget for this trip. 25 million euros is the total budget for this trip. The 85 % has been allocated to the events, while the remaining 15 % has covered the logistics or communication needs. 

As for the origin of this 25 million, 45% has been donated by benefactors, especially companies and foundations, as Barriocanal pointed out. 

These companies include large groups from the financial, insurance, communications, telecommunications, new technologies, transportation, electrical construction, food and catering, hotel and catering and logistics sectors. Companies from the educational world have also played a key role in financing this trip. 

Along with this, Fernando Giménez pointed out that another 30 % of this budget comes from the dioceses' and the EEC's own resources. The public administrators of the Canary Islands and Catalonia have contributed around 20 % of this money while small donors have added 5 % of this total budget. 

Fernando Giménez Barriocanal highlighted the support that the declaration of this visit as an event of public interest by the government has brought. He also pointed out that, as was the case in 2011, the return on this investment always exceeds the amount invested, although, as he emphasized, “the main return is spiritual”. 

Kings and politicians 

For his part, Rafa Rubio, communications coordinator for the visit, shared some details of the Welcome Ceremony at the Royal Palace and the speech at the Spanish Parliament. 

In this regard, the King and Queen will receive the Pope at the airport, although the official welcoming ceremony will take place at the Palace of the Orient. 

As a detail, the Infanta and Queen Sofia will have a personal meeting with the Holy Father before the greetings of the authorities in the Hall of the Kingdom and then, in the Hall of Columns, the King and the Pope will address some speeches to those present. 

As for the Pope's historic visit to the Spanish Cortes, Leo XIV will be received by the presidencies of the Congress and the Senate. It will be in the Sala de los Pasos Perdidos where he will greet all the representatives before delivering his speech from the presidential area of the Congress.

Enrollees value the Pope highly but know little about him 

At this press conference, the first results of a survey conducted by GAD3 among the people registered for the trip were announced. 

Among the results of this survey, it is worth noting the evidently positive opinion of those registered with respect to the figure of the Holy Father, although more than half, 57 %, recognize that they do not know much about the life and teachings of Robert Prevost. 

In terms of motivations, the expression of faith and the experience with family and friends stand out. 

For the registrants, Leo XIV is clear, “pulls” close, is considered more pastoral and is “in the middle”, between traditional and modern. 

Asked about the topics they consider most interesting for the Pope to address, the respondents, some 10,000, pointed to “Youth and the future“ and “Family and life.”.