In speech to Spanish parliament, pope demands respect for the dignity of all people

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Religion In speech to Spanish parliament, pope demands respect for the dignity of all people June 8, 20266:18 AM ET By The Associated Press Pope Leo XIV is flanked by Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, as he arrives to meet with members of the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of Deputies, in Madrid, Monday, June 8, 2026. Yara Nardi/ Pool via AP hide caption toggle caption Yara Nardi/ Pool via AP MADRID — Pope Leo XIV called Monday for newfound respect for the rights of migrants and international law during an address to the Spanish parliament that signaled a new level of acceptance of the Catholic Church in the public sphere in the overwhelmingly secular country. In the first papal address to the Spanish legislature, the American pope said a "moral renewal" was necessary in legislatures and public life to ensure respect for the inherent dignity of all people, including migrants, the unborn and the most vulnerable.

"The moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most fragile," Leo said. Sponsor Message Speeches by popes to foreign legislatures are rare, since they can imply recognition of a religious leader by lawmakers. Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the U.

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Congress in 2015, and Pope Benedict XVI addressed his native German Bundestag in 2011. The mere fact that Leo was invited to speak at Las Cortes Generales, as the parliament is known, showed a level of acceptance for the Catholic Church in a political setting that might have been unthinkable even a few years ago. The Catholic Church was a pillar of Gen.

Francisco Franco's dictatorship, during which it enjoyed broad control and influence over Spanish society, but that waned after democracy took root in the 1970s. While many Spaniards still identify as Catholic, religious observance has dropped off sharply amid secularizing trends seen in other once-staunchly Christian countries. Religion 1 million people flood Madrid streets to see the pope's flower-carpeted procession And yet at the end of his speech, lawmakers from across the political spectrum gave Leo a minutes-long standing ovation with chants of "Viva el Papa!

" — "Long live the pope! " Pope calls for peace as Israel and Iran trade strikes Leo's speech came as Israel and Iran traded fire in retaliatory strikes that threatened to drag the Middle East back into a full-scale regional war, and the American pope repeated his demand for dialogue to resolve disputes. "Peace demands diplomatic courage, ethical responsibility and a vision for the future grounded in respect for the identity of every people and in the obligation of states to resolve their disputes through the peaceful means offered by international law," he said.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.