Pope León XIV told crowds in Madrid on Sunday that Spanish religiosity should be a "school of faith" rather than a "museum of the past" [1, 2].

The remarks signal a push for the Catholic Church in Spain to transition from traditional, nostalgic observance toward a more active role in modern social challenges.

Speaking at the Plaza de Cibeles during the Corpus Christi Mass, the Pope addressed a gathering of approximately 1.2 million faithful [1]. He urged believers to move away from a comfortable, private faith and instead commit to the common good of society [3, 4].

"No queremos una religiosidad que sea un museo del pasado, sino una escuela de fe," the Pope said [2].

He emphasized that faith should not be confined to the walls of a church, stating that God is not locked inside a temple [5]. The pontiff said that Christians are called to be present in the current challenges of society to help build a better collective future [6].

This call for engagement comes as the Church navigates its role in a secularizing Europe. By framing faith as a school rather than a museum, the Pope highlighted the need for a living religion that evolves and interacts with the public sphere, rather than merely preserving historical rituals [3, 4].

"Dios no está encerrado en el templo; debemos salir de una fe cómoda y privada," the Pope said [5].

The event drew massive crowds to the center of the Spanish capital, filling the square and surrounding streets [1]. Throughout the homily, the Pope focused on the necessity of a faith that contributes tangibly to the community [6].

"Los cristianos están llamados a estar presentes en las situaciones y los desafíos de la sociedad, construyendo el bien común," the Pope said [6].

“"No queremos una religiosidad que sea un museo del pasado, sino una escuela de fe."”

The Pope's rhetoric reflects a strategic effort to prevent the Catholic Church in Spain from becoming a cultural relic. By criticizing 'comfortable' faith, he is pushing the clergy and the laity to integrate religious practice with social activism, attempting to maintain the Church's relevance in a society where traditional piety is increasingly viewed as a historical artifact rather than a daily guide.