Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Nov 6, 2010 / 08:36 am
Immediately upon arriving in Spain, Pope Benedict XVI touched on the sensitive topic of abortion in the country today. The Pontiff called for justice for the "poorest and the most defenseless."
Spain recently passed a new law which waives abortion restrictions in cases of "extremely grave and incurable disease."
The Pope was met by representatives of the Spanish Church, state and royal family just after his plane touched down on a foggy day in Santiago de Compostela. Crowds of Spaniards and a military band were also present to greet him.
This is Pope Benedict’s first-ever stop at the popular pilgrimage destination in northwest Spain's Galicia region. Pilgrims travel to Santiago de Compostela - or just Santiago - to reach the city's cathedral, where the tomb of the Apostle St. James lies.