The Diplomat
King Felipe VI will accompany Pope Leo XIV on June 12 at Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport for the official farewell to his apostolic visit to Spain, Moncloa Palace announced on Friday.
Initially, Queen Sofía was scheduled to attend the farewell ceremony, but sources at Zarzuela Palace indicated on Friday, and Moncloa Palace later confirmed, that the King will represent Spain at the event.
Also present at the farewell ceremony will be the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños; the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres; and the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and Government Spokesperson, Elma Saiz, accompanied by regional and local authorities.
Bolaños will also attend the Pope’s departure from the Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria, bound for Tenerife, and will be received at the Tenerife Airport by Ángel Víctor Torres and Elma Saiz.
It was announced this Thursday that the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will receive Pope Leo XIV upon his arrival in Gran Canaria and will accompany him during his meeting with migrants and volunteers at the Argüineguín reception center, the arrival point for thousands of people in recent years.
Initially, Sánchez’s presence was not planned for this final leg of the trip in the Canary Islands, which will be clearly marked by the migration component and has been particularly valued by the Government. Therefore, the Prime Minister will meet with the Pope at least five times during his apostolic journey to Spain, which will take place between June 6 and 12, 2026, in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
As for the King, his schedule includes his presence tomorrow, Saturday, at the Pope’s arrival at Barajas Airport in Madrid, accompanied by Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Later that same day, the Pope will be received at the Royal Palace, along with the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía. On Sunday, the King and Queen and their daughters will attend Mass at the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, and on Wednesday, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will attend Mass at the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona.