Pedro Sánchez and Pope Leo XIV highlight their shared commitment to peace and international law in their first audience at the Vatican

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, in his first meeting since his election as Pontiff in 2025. During the private audience, the two men highlighted their shared views on the global challenges facing humanity.

The two leaders agreed on the need to defend a peace achieved through dialogue and in accordance with international law as a basis for addressing conflicts such as those in the Middle East and Ukraine, which threaten to exacerbate famine in the poorest countries. They also expressed agreement on issues such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence on contemporary societies and migration.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will begin a trip to Spain on 6 June 2026 which will take him to Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. In this respect, the President of the Government of Spain conveyed that it would be an honour for Spain to receive him and expressed the great anticipation surrounding his visit at a time of great uncertainty and polarisation worldwide.

Non official translation