Pope Leo XIV calls for systemic reform amid mental health and domestic violence warnings
During a prayer vigil in Barcelona, the Pontiff urged public health systems to address the "invisible and widespread malaise" of depression and condemned the "toxic climate" of abuse within families.
Pope Leo XIV has called for urgent attention to the deteriorating state of mental health and the prevalence of domestic violence, framing these issues as symptoms of a broader societal failure. Speaking during a prayer vigil in Barcelona on Tuesday, the Pontiff urged public health systems to confront what he described as the "invisible and widespread malaise" of depression, a call that followed emotional testimonies from young attendees, including a woman who survived a suicide attempt.
The address marked the fourth day of the Pope’s visit to Spain, a country where religious observance has declined for decades despite its status as a traditional bastion of Catholicism. Earlier in the day, the Pope visited Barcelona’s Gothic Cathedral under tight security conditions, where he mixed Spanish and Catalan during his interactions, prompting applause from the gathered crowd when he switched to the local language.
Pope Leo XIV argued that mental well-being is increasingly under threat in societies that consider themselves advanced. He attributed this decline to pressures, expectations, and tensions that compromise healthy balances, stating that there is "something deeply wrong with a certain notion of progress." He denounced a social system that he claimed does not put people first, creating situations of injustice and existential poverty, and urged young people to "learn to pause and value what is important."
The Pontiff also spoke out against abuse and oppression within families, noting that violence against women often leads to femicide. He described a "toxic climate in family relationships marked by abuse and oppression" and emphasised that society must address this dramatic reality both personally and collectively. His comments came after a young woman shared her experience of her father attempting to kill her mother, who subsequently turned to drugs.
Looking ahead, the Pope is scheduled to bless the new central tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica on Wednesday, where he will also hold a mass. Following his time in Barcelona, he will travel to the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday to meet migrants and volunteers, and to pay tribute to those who died trying to reach the archipelago.
