Toledo: In a historic message marking the 800th anniversary of the Primate Cathedral of Toledo, Pope Leo XIV has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the faithful and encouraged widespread participation in the centenary celebrations planned throughout 2026 and 2027.
The Pontiff’s letter, addressed to the Archdiocese of Toledo and read publicly by Apostolic Nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, reflects on the Cathedral’s enduring spiritual, historical, and social significance. Pope Leo XIV described 2026 as a year to embrace grace, forgiveness, mercy, and gratitude, honouring the Cathedral’s rich legacy not only in Spain but across Europe and Hispanic America.
In his message, the Pope recalled that the construction of the current Gothic Cathedral began in 1226, when Archbishop Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada and King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile laid its first stone atop the former Visigothic Basilica of Saint Mary. Over the centuries, Toledo Cathedral has witnessed pivotal religious, cultural, and civic events, its history embodied in the artistry of its architecture, paintings, sculptures, and sacred relics.
The 800th anniversary has been envisioned as a holistic celebration, intertwining faith, music, art, and cultural heritage into a shared experience for the Church and the wider world. The commemorative programme is structured around four central themes: voice, memory, the body of stone, and the spiritual life of the Cathedral and its community.
A highlight of the celebrations will be the Primada exhibition, opening on 25 May 2026 and running until 14 October 2026. The exhibition will display over 350 masterpieces, including paintings, sculptures, codices, and tapestries spanning eight centuries. Works by renowned artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini, and Luca Giordano will feature prominently, offering visitors a panoramic view of the Cathedral’s artistic and spiritual heritage.
Beyond exhibitions, the programme includes initiatives for the conservation and restoration of the Cathedral, research projects, publications, and educational programmes designed to safeguard this legacy for future generations.
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the significance of the Hispano-Mozarabic liturgy, celebrated daily within the Cathedral as a living expression of faith and communion with the See of Peter. The liturgical tradition forms a key part of the Centenary Music Programme, which aims to rejuvenate Toledo Cathedral’s historic soundscape, blending archival music with contemporary performances.
The Pontiff also underscored the Cathedral’s ongoing social and charitable work, urging the faithful to respond to modern forms of poverty as a tangible expression of Christian service. Quoting from his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te, Leo XIV encouraged the community to uphold charity as a cornerstone of the Cathedral’s pastoral mission.
The eight-century celebration will culminate in a Jubilee Year, beginning 25 October 2026, on the feast of the Cathedral’s dedication, and concluding 27 October 2027. During this period, pilgrims from across the globe will be invited to experience a time of spiritual encounter, reflection, and renewal, strengthening their connection to the Cathedral’s enduring mission.
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV offered his spiritual closeness and blessings to the community of Toledo, invoking the protection of Our Lady of the Tabernacle, patroness of the city and the Cathedral. He encouraged the faithful to embrace the anniversary as a source of inspiration for faith, devotion, and cultural enrichment in the present and for generations to come.