The study interviewed 11,498 adolescents and young adults from every region of the country between April and July 2025.

Before the Pope’s arrival: a survey reveals the popularity of Pope Leo XIV, as well as the expectations and topics of interest among those who will welcome him in Spain

The poll, commissioned by the organizers of the papal visit and conducted by GAD3 among registered participants and volunteers, provides a snapshot not of Spanish society as a whole, but of those who have already committed themselves to attending the events

PHOTO GALLERY: The traditional Chartres pilgrimage breaks records. Here are the surprising figures that challenge the European narrative of religious decline

What most surprised was not merely the size of the crowd — larger even than last year’s 19,000 pilgrims — but its demographic profile. According to an internal study conducted among 4,610 participants, the average age of the pilgrims was only 22 years old. By comparison, the average age of practicing Catholics in France today is approximately 57.