The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, held a private audience this Sunday with Pope Leo XIV, to whom he presented, among other gifts, a sculpture of the Virgin of Almudena and a book with photos of the city and reiterated his invitation to visit the capital.
“I found a pope extraordinarily close and affectionate with Madrid and with the people of Madrid,” Ha declared the mayor after being received by the pontiff, taking advantage of a personal trip to Rome.
Almeida met with Leo XIV for 20 minutes and they discussed the challenges of society, such as maintaining ability to maintain social cohesion and the need to care for the most vulnerable without leaving anyone behind.
In addition to reiterating his invitation to visit Madrid, the mayor offered the pontiff a sculpture of the Virgin of Almudena, a book with photos of Madrid and a bound book with the papal coat of arms, as well as some storage containers from a convent of Agustinas de Jerez and a book about the musical group Hakuna.
Almeida has already been received, March 18, 2023 by Pope Francis on the occasion of the celebration of the 4th centenary of the canonization of Saint Isidro Labrador and the Jubilee Year granted by the Holy See to the capital, celebrated between May 15, 2022 and May 15, 2023.
About The Author
