(OSV News) — A study conducted among participants of Pope Leo XIV’s recent apostolic visit to Spain reported an overwhelmingly positive experience, with many citing a significant impact on their faith.
In a survey published July 23 of 5,027 attendees, conducted by Spanish research firm GAD3, 89% rated the pope’s June 6-12 visit as very positive and 9% viewed their experience as positive, bringing total favorable ratings to 98%.
At a June 16 press conference, organizers said the papal visit drew an estimated 2.5 million participants across Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, the national coordinator of the papal visit, noted that although the pope’s trip to Spain had a positive economic impact, its spiritual impact was immeasurable.
“There are still no metrics to evaluate all the contributions to the common good made by the Holy Father, which undoubtedly result in a social benefit that is not measured in the GDP,” Giménez said. “The Holy Father also spoke about this in his speeches, and they undoubtedly have great value.
Spaniards learned about Pope Leo during the trip
While it will take time to measure the spiritual fruits of Pope Leo’s visit, the GAD3 study gauged the immediate impact the event had on participants. Among the most significant findings was that prior to the visit, 57% said they knew little of Pope Leo’s life and teachings.
After the visit, that figure plummeted to 14%, a 43-percentage-point drop. Simultaneously, the number of participants who became well-acquainted with the pontiff rose to 86%.
The survey also found that the spiritual impact of the papal visit was “very high.
“Ninety-two percent say the visit helped them strengthen their desire to improve the world, and 91% indicate that it reinforced their personal relationship with God,” the report stated.
An estimated 87% said the visit strengthened their commitment to the Catholic Church, while 82% said it gave them a better understanding of Jesus Christ.
Gauging participants’ emotions, an overwhelming 99% reported feeling joy during the pope’s visit, followed by 97% who reported both enthusiasm and hope, and 95% who reported peace, unity with others and a spiritual connection.
Messages resonating with participants
Pope Leo’s speeches during the six-day visit focused on migration, artificial intelligence, polarization and faith. However, according to the survey, the importance of prayer and the personal encounter with God had the greatest impact on participants at 19%, followed by living one’s faith with joy and hope at 17%, and the call to serve and help others at 13%.
Other messages that resonated with participants included peacebuilding (12%), the role of youth in the Church (11%) and “the need to build community and walk together” (11%).
Asked what their personal goals were after the papal visit, 45% of participants said they would try to live with more hope or joy, while 41% said they would take better care of their spiritual life.
Among younger participants, the papal visit was seen as a call to action, the report noted.
Nearly half of attendees under age 18 — 46% — stated that their primary personal resolution following the pope’s visit was to dedicate more time to helping others.
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Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.
