Spanish Bishops Clarify Pope Leo XIV’s Remarks After Media Claims
The Spanish Bishops’ Conference has issued a clarification following media reports suggesting that Pope Leo XIV warned about far right political parties attempting to weaponize the Church in Spain.
In a statement released on February 24, the executive commission of the conference said that during a November 17 audience with the bishops, the pope spoke broadly about the risks of subjecting faith to ideological agendas. According to the bishops, he did not refer to any specific political party or movement.
The clarification followed a report published by the Spanish newspaper El País, which alleged that Pope Leo XIV had expressed concern over the rise of far right groups seeking to attract Catholic voters and instrumentalize the Church. The article cited an anonymous prelate claiming that the pope was troubled by the use of religious identity for political ends.
The nine member executive commission, led by Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid and Cardinal José Cobo of Madrid, emphasized their respect and adherence to the pope. They stated that during the audience, the Holy Father encouraged them in their evangelizing mission and called for communion within the Church amid contemporary social challenges.
The controversy arises against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Spain over immigration and religious freedom. In recent months, the bishops publicly opposed a local council decision that would have restricted Muslims from holding religious events in certain areas. The conference argued that limiting such rights violates fundamental freedoms and constitutes discrimination incompatible with democratic principles.
That position drew criticism from leaders of the political party VOX, including its president Santiago Abascal, who accused the bishops of failing to defend Spain’s identity and religious heritage. While the conference did not formally respond to those remarks at the time, Auxiliary Bishop Francisco César García Magán, secretary general of the conference, later referred in a homily to historical slogans that targeted the Church during the early twentieth century, warning against rhetoric that divides believers.
The El País report also noted that the bishops’ support for a government plan to regularize the status of approximately half a million undocumented migrants further intensified criticism from some political sectors. The bishops have maintained that their stance is rooted in Catholic social teaching and the defense of human dignity.
In their recent statement, the executive commission underscored that Pope Leo XIV received them with particular warmth and listened attentively to their interventions. They said he urged them to strengthen unity among the members and institutions of the Church in Spain and to continue their pastoral work with fidelity and openness.
The bishops reiterated that the pope’s remarks focused on the broader spiritual challenge of ensuring that faith remains free from partisan appropriation, rather than addressing specific political actors.
