Pope concludes Spain journey with appeal to "lift up your gaze"

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV brought his Apostolic Journey to Spain to a close on Friday with a few words at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the end of the final Mass. In his short address he thanked the Spanish people for their welcome and left them with a final invitation to "Lift up [their] gaze."

Speaking after the concluding Eucharistic celebration, the Pope reflected on the six-day journey, which took him to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands.

"I return to Rome deeply moved by the great affection I have received," he said, expressing gratitude to all those who helped organise the visit and to the faithful who participated in the various events.

The Pope also praised what he described as Spain's enduring Catholic identity, saying he had been comforted by the many "testimonies of faith and love for the Church" he encountered throughout the country.

Looking to Christ

Speaking in the port city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, whose name means "Holy Cross," Pope Leo turned his thoughts "to the whole world and its wounds, which cause entire populations to suffer," he said.

The Pope then turned to the journey's motto: "Lift up your gaze."

"Let us turn our eyes to Christ Crucified," he urged, describing the Heart of Christ as "the source of mercy, which alone can save humanity."

A call for peace

The Pope went on to say that humanity is in need of "forgiveness and reconciliation" in order to achieve "true and lasting peace", before entrusting those who suffer to the care of the Virgin Mary.

"Let us lift up our eyes, as did Mary, the Mother of all who suffer," he said added. 

United in prayer

Bringing his address to a close, the Pope thanked the people of Spain once more and invited them to remain united in faith.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said. "Let us remain united in prayer and in communion in Christ and in the Holy Church."