'It's a miracle to be part of this': faithful moved by Pope despite Madrid heat

Over a million people filled the streets near one of Madrid's main squares on Sunday (June 7) to join Pope Leo for an outdoor Mass, likely to be the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain, where the pope said God stands with society's poor and forsaken.

Despite the heat, throngs of people pressed along barriers near the landmark Cibeles Square, waving flags as Leo arrived in his white popemobile for the event.

To help battle the heat, volunteers sprayed water on attendees with small sprayers. People also used fans and umbrellas during the service. 

Faithful described the experience as beautiful. Paloma Hidalgo, who travelled from the Valencia region to Madrid, said that seeing Leo XIV had been as moving as the first time she saw Pope John Paul II.

Some 1.2 million people were in the square and its surrounding streets, the Vatican and local organizers said.

Leo began his trip on Saturday with meetings with migrants and the homeless and a vigil with about 600,000 young people in Madrid. His June 6-12 visit also includes stops in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants who have risked their lives crossing there from West Africa.

Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Guillermo Martinez, Nina Lopez/Reuters