The Church in Spain is experiencing days of intense preparation. Pope Leo XIV has expressed his desire to visit the country in 2026, in what would be one of his first international trips since his election. Although the exact dates, the final itinerary, and the full agenda have not yet been officially confirmed by the Holy See, the Spanish bishops are showing well-founded optimism and have already begun the organizational work.

The announcement has gained particular traction through the official website  conelpapa.es , recently launched to centralize all information and channel the collaboration of the faithful and volunteers. The site details the various diocesan and national committees already established: from the National Coordinating Committee (CNC) and the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), to the specific teams in Madrid, Barcelona, ​​the Canary Islands, and Tenerife.

One of the names that has attracted the most attention is that of  Yago de la Cierva , who was one of the key figures responsible for World Youth Day (WYD) Madrid 2011. In a  LinkedIn post  that has quickly gone viral, De la Cierva enthusiastically explains:

“Pope Leo XIV is coming to Spain! How lucky I am! Fifteen years after working on the organization of World Youth Day in Madrid, the Pope wants to return to Spain, and the Archbishop of Madrid has asked me to collaborate in organizing Leo XIV’s visit to our country.”

According to reports, Cardinal  José Cobo Cano , Archbishop of Madrid, has decided to draw on the experience of the team that organized that World Youth Day so successfully. Among the “veterans” already confirmed are names like Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, Rafael Rubio, Paula Rodríguez, Javier Sobrino, and Mariano Rodríguez, along with the Archdiocese’s Pastoral Department, led by Laura Moreno. Many more collaborators will soon be joining the team at the various planned venues.

Pope Leo XIV is said to have chosen Spain from among numerous international invitations—including those from his own countries with which he has personal ties—for reasons that have not yet been fully explained. “ I don’t know if he’s coming because he has a special fondness for us or because we need him more than others, but the fact is, he’s coming! ” writes De la Cierva.

The Pope’s central message during the visit will be twofold: to strengthen Catholics in their faith and to convey to all of society a message of  reconciliation, hope, and peace , especially necessary in the current context. As the organizer reminds us, quoting Nietzsche—” the secret of a successful party lies not in the place, nor in the food, nor in the music, but in the guests”—it is hoped that “everyone is invited ” to this gathering.

From a logistical standpoint, the challenge is enormous: hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in the main events, which will require preparing large open spaces or stadiums, security infrastructure, transportation, and pastoral care. Importantly, the organizers have made it clear that  they will not request public funding from the government , so everything will depend on donations, volunteers, and private contributions.

That is why the appeal is explicit and urgent:

“We need lots of brains, lots of hands, and lots of pockets. […] If you’d like to lend a hand, in any way, take a look at the official website, conelpapa.es, leave your email address, and we’ll tell you how. Thanks in advance!”

The visit of Leo XIV is part of a long tradition of papal journeys to Spain that have left a profound mark on the life of the Church and the country. If it is ultimately confirmed—and all indications are that the timeline is moving quickly—2026 will be remembered as the year in which a Pope with American and Latin American roots returned to meet with the Spanish Church at a pivotal moment in its contemporary history.

While we await official announcements from the Vatican, the wheels are already in motion. The invitation has been extended: let us prepare to welcome Pope Leo XIV.