Pope Leo XIV warns against 'fanning the flames of polarization' on first papal visit to Spain in 15 years

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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday for his first papal visit in 15 years, urging the nation to resist "fanning the flames of polarization" at a fraught moment for the country's Socialist-led government and the Catholic Church itself. The pontiff's warning about divisiveness comes as Spain grapples with internal political turbulence and the Church confronts mounting credibility challenges. His visit, the first to the country since 2011, underscores tensions between religious leadership and secular governance while highlighting the Vatican's concern about deepening social fractures across Europe.