In the first address by a Pope to Spain’s Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament, delivered on June 8, Pope Leo XIV offered a robust defence of the inviolability of human life from the moment of conception, the absolute seal of the confessional, and an integral vision of Spain’s identity deeply rooted in its Catholic history and culture. The speech ended with a prolonged seven-minute standing ovation and chants of “¡Viva el Papa!” from lawmakers across much of the chamber, yet has prompted selective praise, discomfort and criticism from sections of the political Left.