MADRID \u2014 Pope Leo XIV honored Spain’s centuries-old tradition of religious devotion on Sunday as a \u201cschool of faith\u201d for today, as he presided over a Mass before a million people and a procession highlighting one of the most iconic expressions of Spanish popular piety: flower carpets.<\/p>\n
The crowd cheered and shouted \u201cThis is the youth of the pope!\u201d as Leo arrived for the Mass at a central Madrid plaza. He looped around the plaza and surrounding streets in his popemobile to a crowd packed several rows deep of people eager to witness the first papal visit in 15 years.<\/p>\n
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k9C ^m<\/p>\n
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k9C ^m<\/p>\n
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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MADRID \u2014 Pope Leo XIV honored Spain’s centuries-old tradition of religious devotion on Sunday as a \u201cschool 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