Pope Leo XIV’s weeklong visit to Spain has brought him to a once-staunchly Catholic country that has long been in the throes of waning religious practice.
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People react as Pope Leo XIV arrives on the occasion of a meeting with the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV reads L’Osservatore Romano newspaper aboard an ITA Airways Airbus A320neo during his flight from Rome to Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, marking the start of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
Spain’s Airforce fighter jets escort the papal flight departed from Rome heading to Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the occasion of Pope Leo XIV apostolic journey to Spain. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
People catch a glimpse from their homes of Pope Leo XIV arriving at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A group of nuns wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by the Archbishop of Madrid Cardinal José Cobo Cano, left,, arrives at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A mother and her two children are greeted by Pope Leo XIV at CEDIA 24 Horas, a comprehensive support center for homeless people, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV arrives at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez International Airport, Saturday, June 6, 2026, as he starts a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for Pope Leo XIV in Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of Leo’s seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV meets with King of Spain Felipe VI Queen Letizia, and Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia at the at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the occasion of his Apostolic journey to Spain. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as he arrives at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives in the popemobile at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV next to King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrives at Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the start of a seven-day pastoral visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV holds a Badminton racket presented to him by Rio 2016 Olympic champion Carolina Marin and by Paralympic athlete Teresa Perales, second from right, during the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives to attend the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Spanish Flamenco dancers perform for Pope Leo XIV during the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A man holds a portrait of Pope Leo XIV during a Mass marking the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Priests wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV ahead of a Holy Mass and Corpus Christi procession at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV presides over a Mass marking the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV is flanked by Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, left, and Pedro Rollan Ojeda, President of the Senate of Spain, as he meets with members of the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of deputies, in Madrid, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nuns wait to greet Pope Leo XIV in Madrid, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Pope Leo XIV waves in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Pope Leo XIV arrives on the occasion of a meeting with the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Youths stage a soccer match during a meeting with Pope Leo XIV and the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People react as Pope Leo XIV arrives on the occasion of a meeting with the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV reads L’Osservatore Romano newspaper aboard an ITA Airways Airbus A320neo during his flight from Rome to Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, marking the start of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
Spain’s Airforce fighter jets escort the papal flight departed from Rome heading to Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the occasion of Pope Leo XIV apostolic journey to Spain. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
People catch a glimpse from their homes of Pope Leo XIV arriving at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A group of nuns wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by the Archbishop of Madrid Cardinal José Cobo Cano, left,, arrives at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A mother and her two children are greeted by Pope Leo XIV at CEDIA 24 Horas, a comprehensive support center for homeless people, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV arrives at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez International Airport, Saturday, June 6, 2026, as he starts a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for Pope Leo XIV in Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of Leo’s seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV meets with King of Spain Felipe VI Queen Letizia, and Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia at the at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the occasion of his Apostolic journey to Spain. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as he arrives at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the first day of his seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives in the popemobile at Plaza de Lima in Madrid, Saturday, June 6, 2026, for a prayer vigil with young people on the first day of a seven-day apostolic journey to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Pope Leo XIV next to King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrives at Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the start of a seven-day pastoral visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV holds a Badminton racket presented to him by Rio 2016 Olympic champion Carolina Marin and by Paralympic athlete Teresa Perales, second from right, during the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives to attend the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Spanish Flamenco dancers perform for Pope Leo XIV during the meeting “Building networks with the world of culture, art, economy and sport” at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A man holds a portrait of Pope Leo XIV during a Mass marking the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Priests wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV ahead of a Holy Mass and Corpus Christi procession at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV presides over a Mass marking the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Pope Leo XIV is flanked by Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, left, and Pedro Rollan Ojeda, President of the Senate of Spain, as he meets with members of the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of deputies, in Madrid, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nuns wait to greet Pope Leo XIV in Madrid, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Pope Leo XIV waves in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Pope Leo XIV arrives on the occasion of a meeting with the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Youths stage a soccer match during a meeting with Pope Leo XIV and the diocesan community at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 8, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s former Chief Justice David Maraga said he was arrested Monday alongside other activists protesting planned construction inside Nairobi National Park.
Police fired tear gas canisters at the protesters who were marching outside the park while carrying banners with messages denouncing land grabs.
Maraga was detained and later released while staging a sit-in on a major road outside the national park’s main gate. He was wearing a green T-shirt similar to those worn by other activists.
The police have yet to comment on the reason for his arrest.
Maraga wrote on X that he was arrested while heading to present a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service.
“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he said.
Hundreds of activists joined the protest against the planned construction inside the park and the relocation of an orphanage, calling it an attempt to grab public land.
Kenya has experienced incidents of land grabbing in the past, and environmentalists have often spoken out when parks and other green spaces are encroached upon.
Amnesty International in Kenya expressed solidarity with the protesters and called for members of the public to be included in decisions affecting the country’s environmental heritage.
“We want to categorically state that Nairobi National Park is not for sale; our public spaces, our environment, and our rights cannot be traded away behind closed doors,” the rights group said.
The Kenya Wildlife Service on Sunday defended the construction as part of a plan to expand the orphanage and improve the visitor experience, effectively dismissing claims of land grabbing.
Kenya Wildlife Service security personnel stand at the entrance to Nairobi National Park during a protest over plans affecting the park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
Plainclothes police officers arrest protesters during a demonstration against plans they say would affect wildlife habitat in Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
Protesters carry placards during a demonstration against plans they say would affect wildlife habitat in Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
Protesters flee as anti-riot police launch tear gas during a protest over plans affecting Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
Kenya’s former chief justice and presidential contender David Maraga, center, is shielded by protesters in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026, during a protest over plans affecting Nairobi National Park. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)