SPAIN: Papal Visit, World Cup Kick Off & more – 11th June 2026

Buenos días from the city of brotherly love! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 11th of June twenty twenty-six. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

Kicking off this week with some holy news! Last week, we mentioned that President Sanchez visited the Vatican at the beginning of the month. Well, on Saturday, the 6th, it was Pope Leo´s turn as he started his religious tour of the country, landing in the capital before moving on to Barcelona a few days later.

​In a rare address to parliament, Pope Leo, who represents over twenty-six million Spaniards as head of the Catholic church, told Spain’s parliament that the world is facing a profound spiritual and cultural conflict.

He expressed that these are driven by escalating conflicts, political polarization, and declining respect for human rights. He urged leaders to prioritise peace over military expansion, criticising rising European defence spending, arguing that weapons cannot create lasting peace.

​Additionally, he inaugurated the latest completed tower of the famous Sagrada Familia Basilica, blessing the site as it claimed the title of the world’s tallest church.

Over to the EU, on Monday the 8th, news outlet Politico reported that the European Commission is preparing to take France and Spain to court for failing to implement key EU cybersecurity legislation on time.

The law is designed to strengthen cyber resilience across critical sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, and digital infrastructure, requiring member states to enforce its agreed provisions into national law by a certain deadline.

Brussels argues that delays by both countries weaken the EU’s collective cybersecurity framework at a time of rising cyber threats from criminal groups and state-backed actors. The legal action reflects the Commission’s growing determination to enforce higher levels of security.

If the cases proceed, the European Court of Justice could ultimately impose financial penalties, especially if the two countries delay it further.

Next, as we head into the summer season, the country´s tourism sector is on course for a potentially record-breaking year yet again, with international visitor numbers edging towards the symbolic milestone of 100 million arrivals.

According to government statistics, Spain welcomed just over nine million foreign tourists in April of twenty twenty-six, a 5.2% increase from a year earlier. The United Kingdom is still Spain’s largest source of tourism, sending nearly 1.7 million visitors, followed by France with 1.3 million. German arrivals declined by 9.1% to around 1.2 million tourists.

We’ve reported on this point in particular before, but some experts also believe conflicts in other regions, particularly the Middle East, may be redirecting travellers toward perceived safer destinations in Western Europe.

Back to politics, on Tuesday the 9th, the government announced its intentions to tighten regulations for private jets as part of a broader climate agenda. The Senate’s Committee on Transport and Sustainable Mobility has approved a proposal calling for private jet fuel to be taxed in the same way as fuel used for other private purposes. The proposal also seeks to prioritise commercial flights over private aircraft when allocating airport slots and other airport resources.

The Senate noted that Ibiza Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport handle the highest volumes of private jet traffic in Spain. While private aviation accounts for only 2 to 4% of aviation emissions, private jets emit around two tonnes of CO₂ per hour, approximately fourteen times more than a typical commercial flight.

If adopted, the measures would make Spain one of the European countries taking a tougher stance on private aviation. Better start flying coach!

From flying to flames. A major wildfire near Villanueva de los Castillejos in the province of Huelva in the Southwest remains active and is proving difficult to control after spreading rapidly through grassland, scrub, pine forests, and eucalyptus plantations since late last week.

Authorities estimate that the fire now covers more than 3,600 hectares, think around 5,500 soccer fields.

As usual, around 350 residents were evacuated, although many have since returned home, with about 120 people remaining displaced. Officials say there is currently no direct threat to population centres, but monitoring continues.

Let’s look at some policing news next. This week, the Spanish police released details regarding a joint French-Spanish investigation that dismantled a large-scale counterfeit document operation in Alicante, dealing a significant blow to networks involved in migrant smuggling and identity fraud.​

The operation, which was led by the French and Spanish National Police with support from Europol, resulted in one arrest and the seizure of around 800 forged European identity and administrative documents.

The suspect is believed to have operated an online marketplace selling counterfeit documents to criminal networks across Europe.

On Wednesday the 10th, the famous El Caminito del Rey in Andalucia in the south, revealed the country's longest suspension bridge.

The bridge goes over the Guadalhorce gorge and offers visitors an alternative route near the end of the trail, reducing the need for almost a kilometre of steep downhill walking. The original route that explores the former nineteen twenties worker path is also still available.

The project cost around 1.5 million euros and was funded entirely through revenue generated by the attraction. Alongside the bridge, improvements include new pathways, safety railings, surveillance systems, and environmental landscaping.

Regional leaders highlighted the growing importance of inland tourism in Andalucía, viewing attractions like El Caminito as key to sustainable economic growth, job creation, and environmental conservation.

Over to the capital now, where it's rewriting the story of its iconic newsstands.

Once a staple of daily life, these kiosks are rapidly disappearing. The Madrid Association of Professional Press Vendors reports a sharp decline, from 497 kiosks in twenty sixteen to just 262 in twenty twenty-six. But instead of fading quietly, a new wave of entrepreneurs is stepping in and shaking things up.

They’re turning these traditional stands into vibrant, multi-purpose hubs. On Alcalá Street, the Morrison kiosk spins vinyl records alongside fresh coffee and newspapers. In Salamanca, Épico serves up specialty coffee on the go, while Pídeme un deseo draws crowds with its costume jewellery.

For many owners, selling newspapers alone simply doesn’t pay the bills anymore. So they’re adapting. These reinvented kiosks are becoming social hotspots, not just places to grab the headlines.

Still, not everyone is convinced. Some traditional vendors warn that too much reinvention risks losing the very identity that made these kiosks special in the first place.

To the East Coast now. On Saturday, the 6th, the Les Arts Festival in Valencia was forced to cancel its second day after authorities ruled that noise levels during Friday’s performances exceeded legal limits.

The decision was announced just one hour before Saturday’s concerts were due to begin, following reports from municipal licensing officials and regional police monitoring the event’s impact on nearby residents.

Organisers accepted the ruling and announced refunds, including full reimbursement for Saturday tickets and a 50% refund for all festival passes. They stressed that the cancellation was not their choice.

They also said that they had spent months seeking solutions, but expressed frustration that they were unable to meet directly with Valencia City Council leaders to explore options for preserving the festival’s future in the city.

Now to football. This week marks the start of the twenty twenty-six FIFA World Cup, and the Spanish male side enters the competition as one of the favourites after their dominant Euro twenty twenty-four triumph.

Under coach Luis de la Fuente, they blend their traditional strengths with the pace and creativity of superstars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, despite both players recovering from hamstring injuries.

However, despite their recent success, history suggests winning both the European Championship and the subsequent World Cup is extremely difficult… So, let’s see what La Roja can do.

And finally, our thought piece for this week. Pope Leo's visit has sparked small protests and demonstrations, but they have been relatively small compared with previous papal visits.

On Tuesday, the 9th, Clara Blanchar from El País published a sharp analysis of growing tensions around the visit. She highlights how secular organisations are pushing back, especially groups like Europa Laica and Ateus de Catalunya, who openly challenge what they see as public money funding a religious event.

But this isn’t a simple story of rising opposition. Activists themselves admit their movement has lost momentum. Many say public attention has shifted because housing shortages, rising living costs, and cuts to public services now dominate the national conversation.

Blanchar also points out that Pope Leo XIV has avoided some of the backlash faced by his predecessors. His positions on migration, human rights, and civilian casualties in conflict have made him a less polarising figure, even among critics.

Still, the bigger picture is clear: Spain is becoming steadily more secular. Recent data shows just over half of Spaniards now identify as Catholic, while nearly 40% describe themselves as atheist, agnostic, or non-religious - a dramatic shift from nineteen eighty, when that figure stood at just 8.5%.

If you want to dig deeper into the evolving relationship between religion and public life in Spain, you can find the full article in the show notes.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

Anything to ask or tell us, info@rorshok.com.

¡Hasta la próxima!