On June 7, 2026, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on Madrid’s Cibeles Square to attend a mass celebrated by Pope Leon XIV during the Feast of the Holy Spirit. This marked the first visit of this pope to Spain and highlighted the enduring connection between the Catholic faithful and the papacy. The event symbolized a blend of ancient religious traditions and modern digital engagement, showcasing how the veneration of the pope has evolved over centuries. For centuries, Catholics traveled long distances to Rome to see the pope, drawn by the spiritual significance of the city and its historic basilicas. The Basilica of Saint Peter, built on the tomb of Saint Peter in the 4th century, became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christianity. Popes rarely left Rome, except in extraordinary circumstances, such as when Pope Leo I met Attila the Hun in 452 to prevent the destruction of the city. The name "Leon XIV" echoes this tradition of the pope as a protector of his people. The 14th century saw the first Jubilee, proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII, which drew hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Rome for the promise of sin remission. However, for most of the faithful, the pope remained a distant figure until the 19th century. In 1870, Italian troops captured Rome, ending over a thousand years of papal rule in the city. Pope Pius IX retreated to the Vatican, declaring himself a prisoner. This shift marked a turning point in how the papacy was perceived and venerated. The 19th and 20th centuries saw an increase in the public’s connection with the pope. The Vatican Council I, held under Pius IX, declared the doctrine of papal infallibility, leading to a new form of veneration that included portraits and images in Catholic homes. Pope Leo XIII expanded the Church's influence with encyclicals like Rerum novarum, which shaped the Church's social teachings. The introduction of radio and television allowed the pope’s voice to reach the world, and later, popes like Paul VI and John Paul II traveled globally, bringing the papacy into the modern era. In recent years, the papacy has embraced digital platforms, with Pope Benedict XVI launching a Twitter account in 2012 and Pope Francis gaining millions of followers on social media. Pope Leon XIV, elected in 2025, continues this trend, using platforms like Instagram to connect with a global audience. As he celebrates mass in Madrid, the event unites historical traditions of pilgrimage, 20th-century global outreach, and 21st-century digital communication. Despite the changing forms of devotion, the desire to connect with the successor of Saint Peter remains as strong as ever.