Antonio Banderas puts the finishing touches on the rehearsal of the Samaritan number from his musical Godspell in Plaza de Lima and the ladies from the Chamartín district fall at his feet: «I’ve seen him all morning and he has an impressive attitude. What humility and what a good vibe! Nothing like Javier Bardem, who is very arrogant. It was Antonio Banderas, but it could be Manolo Pérez,» explains an excited fan.
Just hours before the arrival of Pope Leo XIV, the atmosphere around the Santiago Bernabéu is one of great occasions, of those events that transcend the everyday and turn the city into the setting for a historic day.
Hundreds of pilgrims will arrive today to participate in this massive Prayer Vigil in the capital, where there has also been a great exodus of Madrilenians fleeing the crowds, which left the capital half-empty yesterday.
Mari Cruz is one of the residents who doesn’t plan to miss the appointment with the Pontiff, as it’s right next to her house. Unlike with the Bernabéu concerts, the residents of the area are not complaining about the inconvenience caused by the stage setup, as they assure that it has been quick and quite discreet.
«The truth is they set up the stage and we didn’t even notice. They barely made any noise. We are delighted that the Pope is coming,» says this Bernabéu resident, who takes the opportunity to take a jab at the Prime Minister.
«It annoys me that Pedro Sánchez is going to greet the Pope when he is an atheist and does not attend religious funerals. One must be consistent,» she declares indignantly.
The Pope’s Vigil Hymn
Hugo Ruiz, an actor and dancer who plays Judas in Banderas’ musical, inspired by the Gospel of Saint Matthew, also parades across the Plaza de Lima stage: «We are blown away. Accustomed to performing in a theater, doing it outdoors in front of 280,000 people is very exciting,» he points out.
Next to him is Jaime Salmoreno, a successful architect who lived in Tribeca and decided to leave everything to become a priest. Now, he has composed the vigil hymn Alzad la mirada and is also releasing his new album Todo tuyo today.
«It is a unique moment in the life of this country and in the lives of all of us participating. Sharing faith and love before hundreds of people is something that overwhelms me,» he asserts.
Meanwhile, workers are finalizing preparations for the main stage at this Castellana junction, which is already closed to traffic and completely secured. The Police maintain a large security deployment and the city is a constant flow of police vans and mounted officers, patrolling strategic points.
A street vendor, offering fans in front of Almudena Cathedral, precisely laments this: «I’m fed up with the Pope! This place is full of Municipal, National, and plainclothes police, and they take away my merchandise. I can’t sell anything,» he complains.
On the contrary, at the Salve shop on Bordadores street, they are having a boom. This business has been in charge of manufacturing the vestments that the Holy Father, bishops, and cardinals will wear during the visit, so they have had to produce 5,643 religious garments in record time.
«We have also made the white chasuble that the Pope will wear, but it’s like the bride’s dress and we can’t reveal the details. And we have crafted his personalized miter, the pluvial cope, and the shoulder cloth,» says sales assistant Christian Obando.
In fact, his mother was in charge of giving the final stitches to this cloth, which they had already embroidered and had to redo, as Leo XIV found it too ornate. «It is very necessary for the Pope to come and stir consciences. It is the first country he visits in Europe and he has chosen Spain,» says Paloma, one of his clients.
Reactivating Faith
Just opposite is El Milagro, a religious souvenir shop, where caps, pillboxes, and stickers with the Holy Father’s face are sold. Héctor is one of the buyers who takes the papal kit and is eager to meet the Pontiff.
A veteran of the last visits of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, he denounces the disorganization of the current trip: «On previous occasions, as soon as you signed up, they gave you a backpack with a scarf and a cap, but on this tour, they haven’t given me anything. I had to go to six churches to register and I don’t even know where I’m supposed to enter,» he complains.
Pedro García, the shop manager, checks the computer and gives him directions for Sunday mass, because El Milagro also serves as an information point. «This visit of Leo XIV is a moment to reactivate the faith that sometimes falls asleep within us,» concludes Pedro.
