https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As kids across Spain start school this week, many foreign parents who are new to the country may be wondering if Catholicism still plays an integral part of the education system. https://www.thelocal.es/20260909/how-religious-are-schools-in-spain-nowadays Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:21:05 +0200 how-religious-are-schools-in-spain-nowadays Pope Leo XIV on Friday wrapped up a week-long visit to Spain that highlighted migrant issues, but his return to Rome was held up after his plane experienced a technical problem. https://www.thelocal.es/20260612/pope-urges-migrants-in-spain-to-integrate-during-visit-to-tenerife Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:05:44 +0200 pope-urges-migrants-in-spain-to-integrate-during-visit-to-tenerife Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain's Canary Islands on Thursday to meet migrants, many of whom survived a dangerous Atlantic crossing to reach the archipelago. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/pope-arrives-in-spains-canary-islands-to-meet-migrant-boat-survivors Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:22:12 +0200 pope-arrives-in-spains-canary-islands-to-meet-migrant-boat-survivors Pope Leo on Tuesday arrived in Barcelona where he will celebrate mass in the Sagrada Familia Basilica and bless the new tower that has made it the world's tallest church. https://www.thelocal.es/20260609/pope-flies-to-barcelona-to-bless-sagrada-familia-tower Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:14:04 +0200 pope-flies-to-barcelona-to-bless-sagrada-familia-tower The US-born pope on Monday gave an unprecedented speech to the Spanish parliament which was welcomed with a lengthy standing ovation and applause from lawmakers, even though some of his words clashed with policies by Spain's governing left. https://www.thelocal.es/20260608/pope-shares-his-views-on-euthanasia-and-abortion-in-spains-parliament Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:27:16 +0200 pope-shares-his-views-on-euthanasia-and-abortion-in-spains-parliament Several associations representing victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy have complained about not being invited to a meeting with Pope Leo XIV reportedly due to take place in Madrid on Monday. https://www.thelocal.es/20260608/sexual-abuse-victims-in-spain-protest-not-being-invited-to-meet-pope-leo Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:49:37 +0200 sexual-abuse-victims-in-spain-protest-not-being-invited-to-meet-pope-leo Over 1.2 million people filled the streets of Madrid on Sunday for a mass by Pope Leo XIV, during which he called for a renewal of the Catholic faith in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20260607/pope-to-lead-huge-madrid-mass-on-day-two-of-spain-visit Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:33:59 +0200 pope-to-lead-huge-madrid-mass-on-day-two-of-spain-visit Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remained "an open wound" as he began a trip to Spain that will include a meeting with victims. https://www.thelocal.es/20260605/pope-leo-prepares-to-visit-a-polarised-and-secular-spain Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:21:43 +0200 pope-leo-prepares-to-visit-a-polarised-and-secular-spain Since Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain was announced, the pontiff voiced his intent to stop in the Canary Islands to highlight the humanitarian crisis on the deadly Atlantic migration route, as well as to meet with migrants, rescue workers, and aid organisations. https://www.thelocal.es/20260603/migrant-boat-crossings-in-focus-ahead-of-pope-visit-to-spains-canaries Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:55:14 +0200 migrant-boat-crossings-in-focus-ahead-of-pope-visit-to-spains-canaries Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass at Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia basilica during his six-day visit to Spain next month, according to the itinerary of his trip published Wednesday by the Vatican. https://www.thelocal.es/20260506/pope-to-hold-mass-at-barcelonas-sagrada-familia-during-spain-visit Wed, 06 May 2026 14:26:35 +0200 pope-to-hold-mass-at-barcelonas-sagrada-familia-during-spain-visit Spain will deploy more than 13,000 police officers to stave off "multiple" potential threats to Pope Leo XIV's visit from June 6th to 12th, the interior minister said on Monday. https://www.thelocal.es/20260505/spain-to-deploy-over-13000-police-for-pope-leos-june-visit Tue, 05 May 2026 09:12:53 +0200 spain-to-deploy-over-13000-police-for-pope-leos-june-visit Constructors crowned the largest tower of Barcelona's unfinished Sagrada Familia basilica with a final piece on Friday, setting the peak of the world's tallest church at 172.5 metres (566 feet). https://www.thelocal.es/20260220/barcelonas-sagrada-familia-basilica-hits-peak-height Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:41:24 +0100 barcelonas-sagrada-familia-basilica-hits-peak-height Increasing cooperation between Spain's two main rightist parties means that a bill by far-right Vox to ban the burqa and niqab could be voted through this week, with suggested fines of €600 for women who wear the face coverings. https://www.thelocal.es/20260216/spains-right-wing-parties-work-together-on-burqa-ban Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:45:28 +0100 spains-right-wing-parties-work-together-on-burqa-ban A Spanish court has rejected an appeal by a group of excommunicated nuns who joined a sect and were ordered to leave their convent, confirming their eviction, an archbishopric said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.es/20260131/spanish-court-orders-rebel-nuns-out-of-convent-again Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:03:34 +0100 spanish-court-orders-rebel-nuns-out-of-convent-again The Pope is expected to visit Spain this year and will travel to three locations within the country. Leo XIV will be the first pontiff to officially visit Spain in 15 years. https://www.thelocal.es/20260112/what-we-know-about-pope-leos-planned-visit-to-spain-in-2026 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:02:06 +0100 what-we-know-about-pope-leos-planned-visit-to-spain-in-2026 The Spanish government and the Catholic Church signed a landmark agreement Thursday to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy, aiming to settle what officials described as a "moral debt". https://www.thelocal.es/20260109/spain-signs-agreement-with-church-to-compensate-abuse-victims Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:24:31 +0100 spain-signs-agreement-with-church-to-compensate-abuse-victims The Spanish woman whose failed restoration of a century-old painting of Jesus Christ captured global headlines more than a decade ago has died at 94. https://www.thelocal.es/20260102/spanish-woman-known-for-failed-monkey-christ-fresco-restoration-dies Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:05:00 +0100 spanish-woman-known-for-failed-monkey-christ-fresco-restoration-dies Two excommunicated Spanish nuns who have joined a sect were held for allegedly selling cultural assets belonging to the Catholic Church from a convent they refuse to leave, a court said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.es/20251129/spain-holds-two-rebel-nuns-over-church-cultural-asset-sales Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:30:01 +0100 spain-holds-two-rebel-nuns-over-church-cultural-asset-sales The Bishop of Cádiz in southern Spain, under investigation by the Vatican over alleged paedophilia, has resigned, and Pope Leo XIV has appointed his successor, the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) announced. https://www.thelocal.es/20251124/spanish-bishop-resigns-amid-paedophilia-allegations Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:23:06 +0100 spanish-bishop-resigns-amid-paedophilia-allegations Spain's Catholic Church said Friday it has received 101 sexual abuse complaints so far this year under a new compensation system. https://www.thelocal.es/20251122/spains-catholic-church-facing-101-abuse-claims-this-year Sat, 22 Nov 2025 10:27:48 +0100 spains-catholic-church-facing-101-abuse-claims-this-year