Pope Leo sends a letter to the faithful of Toledo in which he highlights the spiritual, historical and social richness of the Primate Cathedral and encourages participation in the liturgical and cultural events planned for 2026.
By Sebastián Sansón Ferrari
Pope Leo XIV has sent a message to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toledo on the occasion of the inaugural event marking the 800th anniversary of the construction of the Primate Gothic Cathedral. In his letter, sent on the 29th the Pontiff expressed his joy at the activities planned to celebrate this Eighth Centenary and voiced the hope that 2026 may be a time of grace, forgiveness, mercy and gratitude for the rich history of the Church of Toledo in Spain, Europe and Hispanic America.
In the text, read by the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, the Holy Father recalled that in 1226 Archbishop Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada and King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile laid the first stone of the present Primate Cathedral on the site of the former Visigothic Basilica of Saint Mary. Over the course of 800 years, Toledo Cathedral has been the setting for decisive events in religious and cultural history, which are reflected in its art and architecture.
Art, faith and heritage in the centenary programme
The Eighth Centenary of the Cathedral is conceived as an integral celebration in which faith, art, music and heritage come together in dialogue to offer a unique, shared experience, open to the whole Church and to the world. The programme commemorates the living history of the Cathedral through four major themes: voice, memory, the body of stone, and the spiritual life of the building and its community.
One of the central events is the major exhibition Primada, which will open on 25 May 2026 and remain open until 14 October. This cultural exhibition will bring together more than 350 masterpieces—including paintings, sculptures, codices and tapestries—spanning eight centuries of art, faith and heritage, with works by artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini and Luca Giordano.
In addition to the exhibition, the cultural programme includes initiatives for the conservation and enhancement of the Cathedral, as well as research projects, publications and other undertakings aimed at ensuring the transmission of this exceptional heritage to future generations.
Throughout 2026 and 2027, various events will take place to commemorate the eighth centenary of Toledo Cathedral.
Liturgy, music and jubilee
Leo XIV underlined the value of the Hispano-Mozarabic liturgy, celebrated daily in Toledo Cathedral as a living testimony of faith and of communion with the See of Peter. This musical and spiritual tradition forms part of the Centenary Music Programme, which seeks to recover and renew the Cathedral’s rich soundscape, drawing both on its historical archives and on contemporary productions.
The Pope’s message also highlighted the Cathedral’s social and charitable outreach, which responds to the new forms of poverty present in today’s society. Citing his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te, Leo XIV encouraged the community not to forget the poor, as a concrete expression of faith and of the Cathedral’s pastoral mission.
Jubilee Year: a time of encounter and renewal
The Eighth Centenary will culminate in the celebration of a Jubilee Year, beginning on 25 October 2026, the feast of the dedication of the Primate Cathedral, and continuing until 27 October 2027. During this period, the faithful and pilgrims from around the world will be invited to experience a time of grace, encounter and interior renewal.
Leo XIV concluded his message by assuring his spiritual closeness and offering a prayer that the Lord and Our Lady of the Tabernacle, patroness of the city and of the Cathedral, may always protect the community of Toledo. With affection, he imparted his blessing, encouraging all to live this anniversary as a source of inspiration for the present and the future of faith.
