Pope Challenges Europe To Acknowledge Christian Roots

MADRID (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has challenged Europe to acknowledge Christianity’s contributions to its cultural identity. Leo celebrated Spain’s Christian roots and culture with a massive morning Mass in downtown Madrid and an evening spectacle that featured flamenco dancers and a moving monologue by Spanish actor Antonio Banderas about his own faith journey. Leo arrived in Spain on Saturday at the start of his weeklong visit. He has been keen to highlight the long tradition of Christian devotion here to encourage especially young generations to find their faith. It’s a tall order in a once-staunchly Catholic country where religious observance has largely been on the wane.