Pope begins Spain visit with praise for country's opposition to war and support for migrants

The message of peace, the Pope said in Madrid, "at present unfortunately strikes some as naive and others as confrontational" but should instead be "welcomed by those who do not shut themselves off in preconceived ideologies".Getty ImagesAround 400,000 mostly young people were expected at a prayer vigil near Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on SaturdaySpeaking to reporters on the plane before landing, the Pope said sexual abuse remained "an open wound" for the Church.Sanchez's government and the Catholic Church in Spain signed an agreement in March to compensate victims after years of complaints that religious leaders had failed to tackle the issue adequately.A 2023 study by the Spanish ombudsman's office, which investigates public complaints, estimated that 1.1% of the population had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of members of the clergy or individuals linked to the Church - the equivalent of 440,000 people.The Church has contested these findings.On Saturday, King Felipe hailed Pope Leo's "clarity and firmness" on the issue, saying it was "essential in the process of healing and reparation of the damage inflicted".In the Canary Islands later in the trip, the Pope will be joined by Sanchez to honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.