Andalucia president Juanma Moreno has formally invited Pope Leo XIV for a visit, saying he hopes the pontiff will not ‘forget’ the region if he returns to the country in the future.

Moreno travelled to Madrid on Saturday to attend the official reception for the Pope at the Royal Palace alongside Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, describing the occasion as ‘historic’.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the event, the Partido Popular leader said he intended to personally extend an invitation to Leo XIV on behalf of the region.

‘Unfortunately he has not come to Andalucia this time, but we hope and wish that on his next visit he will come to Andalucia,’ Moreno said.

The president said people across Andalucia were following the Pope’s visit with excitement and pointed to the region’s deep-rooted religious traditions as one of the reasons he believes it would be a natural destination for a future papal trip.

He described Andalucia as a land of strong Catholic heritage, citing its famous Semana Santa celebrations, pilgrimages and religious festivals.

‘If I have the opportunity to greet him, I will convey the passion, popular devotion and traditions of Andalucia,’ Moreno said, describing the region as a ‘Marian land’.

But Moreno said his message would go beyond simply promoting Andalucia as a destination.

He said he would also ask the Pope not to forget southern Europe and the challenges facing some of its most vulnerable communities.

‘I will ask him not to forget the south of Europe, which is Andalucia, not to forget the disadvantaged, and not to forget the great objectives we have set ourselves as a society,’ he said.

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid on Saturday for what has been described as a landmark visit, attracting huge public interest across Spain.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.