Child's Royal Greeting
Child Greets King Felipe with '¡Hola Felipe!' While Awaiting Pope's Arrival
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During Pope Leo XIV's first papal visit to Spain in 15 years, a young boy stole the moment — and the internet. As King Felipe VI's motorcade approached the Royal Palace of Madrid on June 6, a child in a red Spanish national team jersey broke through centuries of royal protocol with a simple shout: '¡Hola Felipe!' The clip reached 2.4 million views within two hours, according to 20minutos.
The shout came as the crowd had fallen momentarily silent in anticipation of the Pope's arrival. King Felipe VI responded with a brief smile and a wave toward the boy. Royal analysts say it was an accidental PR win for the crown.
A Child's Greeting Goes Viral During Papal Welcome
The incident happened at 11:29 CEST near the Plaza de la ArmerÃa in Madrid. The boy, estimated to be between 8 and 10 years old, was waiting behind security barriers hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV. Instead, he spotted King Felipe VI first — and greeted him the way a friend would. Live broadcasts by RTVE captured the shout clearly, according to Diario de Ibiza.
Social media users called it 'the most Spanish greeting possible.' The contrast between the Vatican's formal ceremony and the boy's casual shout struck a nerve online. His identity remains unconfirmed. Local networks were reviewing security footage from the Calle de Bailén to find his family for an evening interview, according to La Opinión de Málaga.
King Felipe's 'Strategy of Proximity' Gets a Boost
Royal analyst Carmen Encinas said the moment was telling. 'Thirty years ago, this would have been a scandal,' she told 20minutos. 'Today, it works in the King's favor.' Felipe VI has spent the last decade building a more accessible image of the Spanish monarchy. The King's calm, friendly reaction is being widely praised as a natural and effective response.
Similar informal moments have happened before — young citizens have addressed the King by his first name at the Princess of Asturias awards. Experts say this reflects how Spain's Gen Alpha generation sees the crown: not as a distant, sacred institution, but as a familiar one. According to Información, the clip has become the defining image of the papal visit's opening day.
Pope Leo XIV's Historic Seven-Day Spain Visit Begins
The '¡Hola Felipe!' moment unfolded on the first day of Pope Leo XIV's apostolic journey — the first papal visit to Spain since Benedict XVI came in 2011. Leo XIV arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 10:30 CEST. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia greeted him on the tarmac. A private meeting between the Pope and the Royal Family followed at noon inside the Palace, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
The visit carries major political weight. Some 24,000 security personnel are deployed across Madrid and Barcelona. One million people are expected at Sunday's Mass at Plaza de Cibeles. The trip will end June 11–12 in the Canary Islands, where the Pope will visit migrant centers — a move that could pressure EU policy on Atlantic migration routes, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
A Spontaneous Moment Reflects Modern Spain's Changing Culture
Some secular commentators saw deeper meaning in the child's shout. They argue it shows how the 'sacred' status of both the Church and the Monarchy has faded in modern Spain. The Pope's visit comes at a politically tense time. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to meet Leo XIV on June 8. His government recently reached a deal to compensate victims of historical clergy abuse, according to La Opinión de Málaga.
An estimated 200,000 minors were victims of clergy abuse in Spain since 1940, according to the national ombudsman. This visit is the first to officially acknowledge that figure through a meeting with victims. Meanwhile, on June 10, the Pope will bless the newly finished Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada FamÃlia in Barcelona — making it officially the world's tallest church, according to Información.
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