Pope Leo XIV begins today the second leg of his visit to Spain with his arrival in Barcelona. There he will participate this afternoon in a large-scale event at the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys, with a vigil of prayer attended by 40,000 people. What remains in memory is his speech to the faithful of the capital’s diocese at the Santiago Bernabéu before 80,000 people and his visit to the Almudena Cathedral. It was precisely before this act that the Pope held a brief yet emotional encounter with the Queen Sofia and her family.
The private audience took place at the Nunciatura, where the pontiff has been staying during his visit to Madrid. Queen Sofia was present, as well as the Infantas Elena and Cristina and three of the emerita’s grandchildren: Victoria Federica de Marichalar, Pablo Urdangarin, and Miguel Urdangarin. Notable was the absence of Juan and Irene Urdangarin, who had to return to the United Kingdom, where they currently reside.
The gathering took place in a relaxed atmosphere, in which inevitably the outfits of Queen Sofia and her daughters drew attention. The mother of Felipe VI made use of the ‘white’ privilege, the prerogative granted by the Vatican to Catholic queens. Infanta Elena and Cristina chose the dark protocol colors, just as Leonor and Sofia did in their meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Among the details that emerged from the talk at this meeting, the praise from Infanta Cristina to the Pope for his ovated speech before the deputies and senators stood out. “This morning in Congress it has been so necessary, so beautiful…,” she said, before her mother added that it had seemed to her “impressive.”
Gift exchange and a slip
After Queen Sofia presented her family to the pope Leo XIV, he wanted to inquire about the emerita’s health. During the conversation they also spoke about the foundations in which she and the Infantas Elena and Cristina collaborate. Subsequently, there was the ceremonial exchange of gifts.
The meeting of the royal family with Pope Leo XIV.
The Pontiff handed the family of Felipe VI some boxes containing blessed rosaries. It was then that Queen Sofia explained to Leo XIV that there were “two of her children”, pointing to Cristina. In that momentary lapse, the wife of Juan Carlos I forgot about her grandson Froilán, who has not been able to come to Madrid from his residence in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting at the Nunciatura once again highlighted the close bond between the Spanish royal family and the Holy See and was a very emotional moment, especially for Victoria Federica. The daughter of Infanta Elena appeared particularly moved by the possibility of sharing a few minutes with the Holy Father, and she even had to wipe away tears on one occasion.
A strong connection with the Vatican
This private audience crowned a very Vatican weekend for Queen Sofia, the Infantas and their children. After their meeting, the emerita accompanied Leo XIV during the prayer in the Almudena Cathedral in honor of the capital’s patron and its archdiocese. This was the first meeting between the two, after the mother of Felipe VI did not attend the inaugural Mass of Leo XIV’s pontificate in St. Peter’s Square.
On the other hand, last Sunday the Infantas, their children, and their respective partners discreetly attended the Mass that the Pope celebrated at Plaza de Cibeles. While kings Felipe and Letizia, together with Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, occupied the dais, they preferred to stay in the background. Other family members, such as Simoneta Gómez-Acebo, also did not miss the occasion.
