More than 1.2 million people packed the streets of Madrid on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV celebrated a huge open-air Mass in what became the biggest event of his week-long visit to Spain. Organisers said crowds filled Plaza de Cibeles and surrounding avenues from the early hours of the morning, creating one of the largest religious gatherings the country has seen in recent years.

The extraordinary turnout highlighted the continuing influence of the Catholic Church in Spain, despite the country becoming increasingly secular over recent decades. Thousands travelled from across Spain to attend, while many others queued before dawn to secure a place close to the procession route.

Crowds fill Madrid’s iconic streets

As the Pope arrived in his white popemobile, worshippers waved flags, cheered and showered the route with flower petals. The Mass took place around Madrid’s famous Plaza de Cibeles, with crowds stretching far beyond the square itself. Organisers and Vatican officials estimated attendance at around 1.2 million people.

Sunday’s celebration coincided with Corpus Christi observances, a major event in the Catholic calendar. Floral displays decorated parts of the procession route, while worshippers joined prayers and religious ceremonies under clear skies and soaring temperatures.

Pope’s message focuses on compassion

During his homily, Pope Leo urged Catholics to put their faith into action by helping those in need. He spoke about supporting the poor, vulnerable and isolated members of society, encouraging worshippers to look beyond private devotion and engage with their communities.

The pontiff also repeated calls for societies to remain welcoming and inclusive, themes that have featured heavily throughout his first official visit to Spain. His trip began with meetings involving migrants and homeless people and will continue with visits to Barcelona and the Canary Islands.

Spain welcomes first papal visit in 15 years

The visit marks the first papal tour of Spain in 15 years and has attracted huge public interest. The night before the Mass, an estimated 600,000 young people attended a vigil with the Pope in Madrid, suggesting strong enthusiasm among younger generations despite declining religious observance nationally.

For many attendees, the day was about more than religion. The gathering became a powerful display of unity, culture and tradition, with Madrid transformed into the focal point of the Catholic world for a day.

As Pope Leo continues his Spanish tour, Sunday’s million-strong turnout will likely be remembered as one of the defining images of his visit – a sea of worshippers filling the heart of Madrid in a historic show of faith.

Firefighters and specialist teams were called out to tackle a dramatic grass fire that broke out in Mijas on Sunday evening. Thick plumes of smoke and visible flames drew attention across the local area near the boundary between Pueblo La Campana and La Sierrezuela. Local authorities confirmed no evacuations needed to take place after police checked the entire vicinity for safety.

Multiple teams working together

Mijas firefighters arrived promptly on scene, supported by local police and Guardia Civil officers. Infoca units joined the effort with a water tanker and forest fire specialists. Operational services also supplied additional fire engines to aid suppression activities. Crews focused their initial actions on the affected dry vegetation zone.

Low-intensity fire brought under control after midnight

Operations achieved success shortly after midnight with the incident declared contained. Responders said the fire lacked high thermal power because it involved mainly dry grass and bushes. Visible flames and dense smoke had spread across viewpoints in the surrounding districts, yet crews managed the situation effectively without major complications.

Residents voice concerns over fire near schools

Local people expressed concerns about the fire’s closeness to school areas. Authorities updated that teams had protected the Pueblo La Campana section and moved on to cooling operations around other sites. Firefighters continued targeted work in this part of the perimeter to make sure the blaze did not reignite.

Public cooperation requested during overnight efforts

Mijas Council advised residents to keep clear of the location so emergency personnel could get to work without interference. No evacuations proved necessary throughout the response. Teams stayed active throughout the night to complete full extinguishment and monitor for any potential flare-ups in the affected terrain.

This rapid action prevented the grass fire from spreading further in the Mijas area. Coordinated involvement from council, regional, and specialist forest services demonstrated effective local emergency management. Residents can expect continued presence of vehicles and personnel in the zone during final checks.

Mijas council had reminded local landowners recently about the importance of keeping their land in good order with grass and bushes cut back so as to avoid just this kind of incident.

Marbella council has started works to remove six high-voltage pylons in the Nueva Andalucia district and bury nearly two kilometres of electrical cabling safely underground. The project targets lines for Marbella Paraiso and Cosol Nueva Andalucia, right in the heart of this residential zone and next to homes. Residents will benefit from improved safety once the structures and overhead wires go.

Council actions hope to clear these installations and return space to local people for everyday use. Investment reaches around €2 million, paid for by a private urban development now underway in the area.

Safety gains and neighbourhood space recovery

The council has called the district a priority area backed up over recent council terms. Similar tower removals have already finished in Calle Castilla and around Calle Salduba. Cable burial work continues at the moment in Calle Rio Real.

Older developments from past decades often ignored key requirements such as communications networks, sanitation systems, steady electricity supply and smooth urban fit for high-voltage lines. Current efforts are now looking at fixing these shortfalls and preparing the town for coming growth.

More areas targeted in coming phases

The council also plans similar works across zones such as Bello Horizonte, Las Medranas, Nueva Andalucia and Rio Real. These steps could eventually clear close to 50 high-voltage pylon towers across the whole city in the medium to long term.

Close ties with electricity provider Endesa have supported a specific plan for the removal and burial of medium voltage lines. One major element involves a new substation in the northern section of the San Pedro Alcantara industrial estate. Local business groups have long called for this facility to support future housing and commercial projects.

Impulse for modernised infrastructure across Marbella

The council has said that expansion in the district should also upgrade the town and make up for past infrastructure shortfalls. The approach looks past just new homes alone and is meant to raise daily living standards for people already there through better facilities overall.