Pope Leo XIV will meet with King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia on March 20 in Rome, just a few months before his apostolic journey to Spain in June. The last time the Pope met the monarchs was in May 2025, during his inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Following the audience, King Felipe VI will take possession of the honorary title of protocanon at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a centuries-old tradition for Spanish monarchs. The basilica has strong ties to Spanish history, with figures like St. Ignatius of Loyola and Pope Callixtus III having contributed to its development.