Salesian houses in Spain, especially the youth centres, are making intensive preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s visit. In total, 1,200 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) have already registered to take part, in Madrid, in the vigil with the Holy Father on Saturday 6 June and in the Mass he will preside over on Sunday 7 June in the morning.

To mark this visit, on Saturday 6 June, from 12:00 to 16:00, the Salesians of Atocha in Madrid will host a gathering of young people from the SYM. The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians will be the venue for a prayer service for vocations inspired by the motto of the papal visit, “Lift up your eyes”.

In an atmosphere of prayer and reflection, participants will hear testimonies from young Salesians who have recently been ordained deacons or are about to make their perpetual vows. After the meeting, the young people will go together to the area around Plaza de Lima to take part in the vigil with the Pope.

Accommodation for pilgrims in Salesian houses

In response to the appeal launched by the Diocese of Madrid, several Salesian houses will open their doors to welcome young people from various dioceses and movements across Spain who will be taking part in the celebrations marking the visit of Pope Leo XIV.

The houses in Aranjuez and those in Madrid (Atocha, Carabanchel, Estrecho, San Blas, Paseo de Extremadura and Vallecas) will host around 1,300 pilgrims.

In the specific case of the Provincial House in Atocha, in addition to hosting around 700 young people from the SYM – most of whom will arrive as early as Friday afternoon – 2,000 places have been arranged for the so-called ‘night in the open air’, as requested by the visit’s organisers, to facilitate the accommodation of young people from various dioceses on the night of 6–7 June.

The SYM young people will also take part, accompanied by a large group of Salesians, in the Eucharist presided over by the Holy Father in Plaza de Cibeles on Sunday 7 June. They will be joined by numerous faithful from Salesian parishes.

Similarly, on the afternoon of Monday 8 June, a group of around 50 Salesians will take part in the meeting scheduled at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Among them will be José Carlos Sobejano, Provincial of the Salesians of Spain’s St James the Greater (SSM), members of the Provincial Council and Rectors of various Salesian communities.

Youth meeting in Barcelona

In Barcelona, the Salesian house in Rocafort will bring together around a hundred young people from the SYM on the morning of 9 June for a prayer meeting, ahead of their joint participation in the vigil organised at the Lluís Company’s Olympic Stadium.

Salesian presence at social events and meetings with migrants

Various Salesian organisations will also take part in the social events scheduled during the Holy Father’s visit.

On 6 June, together with other organisations active in the social sector, five beneficiaries of the Pinardi BoscoSocial (Salesians) and Valsé e Valponasca (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) projects, accompanied by two educators, will take part in the Holy Father’s meeting with staff and beneficiaries of the “Cedia 24 horas” social project. A delegation from the National Coordination of Salesian Social Platforms (CEPSS), comprising five people, including the Salesian María Ángeles García, President of the organisation, will be present at the official event.

Furthermore, the meeting scheduled for 11 June at the Arguineguín pier in Gran Canaria will bring the Pope together with migrants, workers and volunteers. Among the participants will be around 70 members of the Canaria Maín Foundation, run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, mostly migrants, who will be present to highlight the tragedies of the Atlantic route and demand dignified treatment for migrants – as repeatedly called for by Leo XIV.

The following day, 12 June, the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna, Tenerife, will host a meeting with Pope Leo XIV featuring local initiatives dedicated to migrant integration. Salesian José Luis Aguirre will speak on behalf of the Salesians and the Fundación Don Bosco – Salesianos Social to present the work carried out in this area. The event will also be attended by the Superior of the Salesians of Spain’s Mary Help of Christians (SMX), Fr Fernando Miranda.

And on the same day, around 800 members of the Salesian Family have already registered to attend the Pope’s farewell Mass.

Volunteers and musical participation

Around 150 volunteers from the Salesian houses in Madrid have signed up to assist with reception duties, event organisation and technical support during the Pope’s visit.

In addition, a large group of educators, youth leaders and students from the Salesian centres will form part of the large choir conducted by Father Toño Casado, which will lead the gathering on Monday 8 June at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, and which will bid farewell to Pope Leo XIV from Madrid during the meeting with volunteers scheduled for the morning of Tuesday 9 at the IFEMA exhibition centre.