Democracy Dies in Darkness
On the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years, Leo plans to address political polarization and showcase the Catholic Church as an advocate for migrants and asylum seekers.
June 6, 2026 at 4:35 a.m. EDT27 minutes ago
MADRID — As Pope Leo XIV lands in Spain on Saturday for the first papal visit here in 15 years, a realignment between Catholicism and politics is underway on both sides of the Atlantic.
During the era of Franco, the fascist dictator known as El Generalísimo, the Spanish Catholic Church backed National Catholicism — a fusion of faith and right-wing politics that became a trend in Europe and the United States.
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