During the first afternoon of his trip to Spain, Pope Leo XIV visited the Cáritas Cedia Center, a facility primarily dedicated to assisting those who are homeless. Open 24 hours every day, it is about to celebrate 50 years of charitable service.
Upon his arrival, the pope toured the facilities, greeting staff members and some of the people receiving assistance at the center. During the tour, he also unveiled a commemorative plaque that marked his visit to the building.
The main event took place in a courtyard just outside, where hundreds of people were waiting for him. There, he was able to hear firsthand from those who have found support and a new life thanks to the work of Cáritas.
Among them was Niurka Paz. She arrived from Cuba while pregnant and now has twins, a boy and a girl. This is her testimony:
NIURKA PAZ
I arrived in Madrid alone, pregnant with my twins. I was very frightened and anxious because we did not know what our life would be like, but the Church welcomed us. At the Santa Bárbara Home, we found a family.
Khadri, from Senegal, also shared his testimony. He arrived in Spain during Covid-19 in 2020. Visibly emotional, he explained that this center made him feel “respected and important.” He now has a job and assists others at the Center. After speaking, he presented Pope Leo XIV with his residence card.
After listening to these testimonies, the pope addressed everyone present. He described the center as a home where “no one is left alone.”
POPE LEO XIV
Here, each person's joy and pain become the joy and pain of everyone. By listening to one another, we face challenges together, without ignoring the complexity of situations and, at the same time, without setting aside the demands of charity and justice.
At the end of his speech, Pope Leo received a Tree of Life created by those in the Center's addiction rehabilitation programs. Before leaving the gathering, he joined everyone present in praying the Lord’s Prayer.
The theme song of this trip, “Raise Your Gaze” (Alza la Mirada), played as he greeted attendees and made his way to the nearby Parish of Our Lady of the Crucifixion.
There, he blessed members of various social organizations and thanked them for their daily service to those most in need.
