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Politicians praise Pope's speech but continue their disputes

Spanish political leaders interpret the Pontiff's message according to their agendas, with praise and veiled criticism.

Generic image of an institutional building with Mediterranean architecture.
IA

Generic image of an institutional building with Mediterranean architecture.

Pope Leo XIV's address to the Cortes Generales has generated various reactions among Spanish political leaders, who have emphasized different parts of the message according to their interests.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with the Pontiff and highlighted on social media platform X their shared commitment to defending the value of migration and the rights of all people, as well as collaboration for peace. The Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, described the speech as "brave" and "absolutely consistent" with the Executive's position on peace, human dignity, and support for the vulnerable, while respecting the positions of the Almudena Cathedral.
The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, called the speech "historic" and stated he subscribes to it "from the first to the last word," emphasizing the papal defense of human dignity, family, and religious freedom, elements he considers necessary "convictions" in current politics.
The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, praised the speech, seeing "no contradiction" with his party's stance on migration, believing the Pope "distinguishes perfectly between discourse and practical policy." Sources from Vox stressed they also do not feel addressed by the Pope's phrase at the Cibeles mass: "No one can kneel before God and despise their brother."
ERC's spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, ironically commented on the political situation and the Pope's concern about the rise of "fascism." He valued the Pontiff's humanistic view on immigration but expressed surprise at the applause from the PP and Vox for a speech denouncing those who consider someone "less" for coming from abroad, "when week after week they boo and veto proposals" in a similar direction with their votes. Regarding abortion and euthanasia, he noted they "are Church matters."
The leaders of Junts in Congress and the Senate, Míriam Nogueras and Eduard Pujol, took advantage of the Pope's visit to the Cortes Generales to ask him to speak in Catalan, especially during the blessing of the Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família, the central event of his visit to Barcelona. They conveyed the message that "speaking the language of the land that welcomes you is a beautiful act of respect and love."

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