An emotional farewell at Barajas Airport
Last Tuesday, Madrid bid farewell to Leo XIV after an intense agenda that culminated in a meeting at Ifema, where 12,000 volunteers celebrated their collaboration during the Pontiff's stay. This event marked the conclusion of his visit to the Spanish capital before continuing his journey to Barcelona.
At Barajas Airport, the Holy Father was received by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, who accompanied him to the plane. During this journey, Almeida, the mayor of Madrid, expressed his gratitude to the Pope: “Holy Father, as a son of the Church and as mayor, thank you very much. Grace will be poured out over this city.”
Ayuso held a press conference after the farewell, highlighting that over 2,300 journalists and 450 foreign correspondents covered events related to the papal visit. The president described the image projected by Madrid during these days as “incredible,” emphasizing aspects such as coordination and security.
The Pope's visit not only left emotional marks; it is also estimated to have a considerable economic impact on the region. Ayuso quantified this impact at 120 million euros, reflecting the positive effect that international events can have on local economies.
During the days of the religious event, more than 5.6 million Metro trips were recorded, demonstrating how citizens and visitors mobilized to participate in the scheduled activities. The busiest stations were Nuevos Ministerios and Goya, coinciding with key moments of the papal itinerary.
Ayuso also mentioned the health care provision implemented by Summa 112, consisting of over 560 professionals ready to attend to any eventuality during the mass events. This coordinated effort ensures that large events can be carried out safely and effectively.
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