Leo XIV marks his first year as Pope and prepares for his long-awaited trip to Spain in June

Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first year as head of the Catholic Church this Friday, May 8. The pontiff, the 267th in history, reaches this milestone with his sights set on his upcoming apostolic journey to Spain , scheduled for June 6-12, the first by a Pope in 15 years, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, ​​the Canary Islands, and Tenerife.

Leo XIV, of American origin and with Spanish roots on his mother’s side, was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. Since his first public appearance, on May 8, 2025, Robert Prevost has repeated his call for “an unarmed and disarming peace,” an idea that has marked his first months of pontificate.

Prevost was elected successor to Francis , who died on April 21, on the fourth ballot of the conclave. He garnered around one hundred votes, surpassing the two-thirds majority required of the 133 cardinal electors. At 6:07 p.m., the white smoke that rose from the chimney in the Sistine Chapel confirmed to the world that the Church had a new Pope.

Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square then erupted in applause and cheers, chanting “Bianca! Bianca!”, while millions more watched the moment around the world. However, it took nearly an hour to learn the name of the chosen candidate.

It was around 7:00 p.m. when the Cardinal Protodeacon, the Frenchman Dominique Mamberti, announced from the balcony of the basilica the traditional “habemus papam”, before revealing the name of Robert Prevost.

The new pontiff chose the name Leo XIV in reference to Leo XIII, the driving force behind the Church’s Social Doctrine and author of the encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’, which focused on workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution. Prevost framed this choice within the context of another current revolution: that of Artificial Intelligence.

SAINT AUGUSTINE, PERU, UNITY AND PEACE

From his first appearance on the Vatican balcony, Leo XIV emphasized several key ideas. As former Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, he frequently recalled the saint’s teachings. He also evoked his time as a missionary in Peru, where he was Bishop of Chiclayo, a diocese he addressed in Spanish during his opening remarks.

The Pope also emphasized the unity of the Church and, above all, the need to move towards peace. “Peace be with you,” he said to the crowd, in a direct reference to Christ’s words after the Resurrection.

TRAVEL AND CROWDS IN HIS FIRST MONTHS

In recent months, Leo XIV has reiterated his call for an end to open conflicts in various parts of the world . He has advocated for a “disarmed and disarming” peace, not only in the international arena, but also in daily life, in the family, at work, and in language. He has conveyed this message in public audiences, meetings, and conversations with international leaders.

During this time, the Pope has participated in events that have brought together hundreds of thousands of people. Among them, the Jubilee for Young People, held outside Rome, stands out, with the attendance of more than a million faithful from various countries.

Regarding his travels, at the end of 2025 he visited Turkey and Lebanon, on a trip inherited from Francis focused on interreligious dialogue and Christian unity, coinciding with the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. He has also traveled to Monaco and visited several African countries.

His next major international engagement will be in Spain . This trip will include a historic visit to the Canary Islands, focusing on the issue of migration, one of the concerns already championed by his predecessor.