France, June 6 -- The trip, his first to Spain and the first by any pope to the country in 15 years, opened in Madrid on Saturday with a welcome from King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Later, Leo will lead a prayer vigil with young people, many of whom will be seeing a pope on Spanish soil for the first time.

The Vatican has confirmed that Leo will also meet survivors of clergy sexual abuse during the visit. The meeting underlines how deeply the crisis continues to shape papal travel, especially in Spain, where the Catholic hierarchy has only belatedly begun confronting decades of abuse and cover-up.

The visit suggests Leo is returning papal attention to Europe and its Christian roots. Pope Francis largely stayed away from the continent'...