1 million people flood Madrid streets to see the pope's flower-carpeted procession

Pope Leo XIV presided over a Mass in Madrid on Sunday as part of a Corpus Domini procession, a tradition marking the Catholic feast day of the Eucharist. The event drew an estimated 1.2 million people to the city’s central plaza and surrounding streets, where 16 flower carpets—made by a Spanish florists association from Galicia using 30,000 yellow and white flowers—lined the procession route. Leo described the carpets as a 'profession of faith' and urged Spain to preserve its religious heritage as a 'school of faith' rather than a 'museum of the past.' The procession followed a Saturday night vigil attended by 600,000 young Spaniards, who knelt in silent prayer alongside the pope. Leo encouraged the crowd to consider vocations in the Church, telling them, 'Don’t ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.' Among the attendees was a young couple, Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, who announced their upcoming June 13 wedding and received the pope’s blessing. The floral carpet tradition dates back two centuries and is also practiced in Latin America, where sand designs replace flower arrangements. The carpets are deliberately destroyed as the procession passes, symbolizing an offering to the Eucharist. Leo emphasized the spiritual significance of the tradition, stating it reflects 'the spiritual sentiments of this country' and serves as a living expression of faith. Organizers confirmed the massive turnout, with crowds packed several rows deep along the half-kilometer route. Leo walked over the carpets carrying a gilded monstrance containing a Eucharistic host, while children and spectators tossed additional petals. The event marked the pope’s first visit to Spain in 15 years and highlighted efforts to revive religious devotion amid a secularizing society.