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Pope Leo Is Blessing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. To Some, the Church Is a Curse.

10 June 2026 at 11:41
The pontiff will offer a Mass in Antoni Gaudí’s iconic, unfinished basilica during his Spain trip. But for some Barcelona residents, completing the construction could mean knocking down their homes.

© Manu Quintero/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, this month.

One of Pope Leo’s Best Friends Works in Spain. They Talk About Cars.

9 June 2026 at 10:12
Pope Leo and Armando Jesús Lovera have known each other for decades. They have watched World Cup games together, gone on road trips and once searched for a teddy bear for Mr. Lovera’s future wife.

© Gianfranco Tripodo for The New York Times

Armando Jesús Lovera in Valladolid, Spain, at the local headquarters of the Augustinian order.
Received — 8 June 2026 NYT - Top Stories

One Is the Pope, the Other an Atheist. They Both Oppose Trump.

8 June 2026 at 05:01
Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, who meet on Monday, have recently clashed with President Trump. Their motivations, however, may be different.

© Vatican Media, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV welcoming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain at the Vatican last month, in a photo made available by Vatican media.
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