Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado
Spain generated 139.48 million euros from Leo XIV’s visit in June. This is the gross value added, meaning the wealth or profit generated for the Spanish people, for example, through job creation or revenue generated by local businesses.
These are some figures from a report commissioned by the Spanish Church to assess the socioeconomic impact of the papal visit.
CHUS ESCOBAR
Public Sector Partner at EY Spain
The results of this study we have conducted show that Pope Leo XIV’s visit had the power to mobilize people, spending, employment, and social participation on a large scale: 2.31 million attendees, a total economic impact of nearly 140 million euros, 3,080 full-time equivalent jobs, and more than 18,000 volunteers, all of which help us gauge an impact that extended far beyond the events held by the Holy Father during his visit.
And most importantly, Spain met its goal in organizing the visit: to avoid running a deficit or incurring debt. According to the organizers, it was highly unlikely that this would happen, since all they had to do was stick to the budget.
FERNANDO GIMÉNEZ BARRIOCANAL
Deputy General Coordinator of the papal visit
All Church entities have their own budgets, including budgets for pastoral activities. And as we’ve discussed, the pope’s visit does not create a deficit because there are no expenses that fall outside the budgets of the various dioceses. This means that neither the dioceses nor the Episcopal Conference have had to take out a loan, because everything listed here was already included in the regular budgets of the dioceses and the Episcopal Conference.
As for expenses, the total came to about 31 million euros, covering stage setup, sound, security, and cleaning. On top of that were travel costs. Pope Leo XIV toured three destinations: Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, so living expenses and travel costs must also be factored in.
Six days, 21 events, 2,500 kilometers traveled, and nearly 2.5 million people on a journey that marked a turning point for the Church in Spain, and one that is already highly anticipated once again. Although Pope Leo XIV has not confirmed it, Santiago de Compostela is already looking forward to welcoming its most beloved pilgrim for the Holy Year of 2027.
