Ethan Walker
The Spanish Royal Family is Roman Catholic, but the King is not the head of the church as in some other countries. The current Spanish monarchy is made up of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and the king's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía. While the King and Queen's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church, the King and Queen have decided to live their faith in a more private way.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current King of Spain | Felipe VI |
| Current Queen of Spain | Letizia |
| Daughters of King Felipe and Queen Letizia | Leonor, Princess of Asturias, Infanta Sofía, and Sofía de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Ortiz |
| King Felipe's parents | King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía |
| King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía's children | Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina, and King Felipe VI |
| King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía's grandchildren | Don Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y Borbón, Doña Victoria de Marichalar y Borbón, Irene, Miguel, Juan Urdangarin y Borbón |
| Queen Sofía's original religion | Greek Orthodoxy |
| Current official form of address for the King and Queen | "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty" |
| Previous official form of address for the King and Queen | "Catholic Majesty" |
| Religion of the Spanish Royal Family | Roman Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church
- The Spanish Royal Family's relationship with religion has changed under King Felipe
- The Pope is considered to be above the King of Spain in the religious hierarchy
- Queen Sofía converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Catholicism upon her marriage
- The Spanish Royal Family's religion is influenced by the increasing diversity of Spain
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are Roman Catholics, as is the rest of the Spanish Royal Family. While the King is not the head of the church, religious authorities are viewed as standing above him as emissaries of God on earth. This means that the King and Queen bow and kiss the ring of Bishops and Archbishops, and the hand of the Pope.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have two daughters: Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía. Both daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church, completing their faith journeys. However, in recent years, the King has made the decision to separate the religious life of the family from the public. This could be due to a number of factors, including a significant rise in the Muslim population of Spain, and a general tendency of the younger generation towards atheism.
The King and Queen's decision to live their faith in a more private fashion could have significant repercussions on state protocol and could lead to a reshaping of relations between the State and the Catholic Church. It could also result in the removal of the preferential status that Vatican City State is currently accorded in bilateral relations. However, this change is still a long way off, as the Roman Catholic Church remains a powerful influence in the country and within the Spanish Royal Family.
Princess Leonor, the heir to the throne, has already begun to take on royal duties. In 2017, she gave her first public address, reading the first article of the Spanish Constitution during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Magna Carta. In 2019, she gave her first speech in public at the Princess of Asturias Awards. More recently, in 2023, Queen Letizia accompanied her to the Juan Sebastian de Elcano, where they were able to catch up in person for the first time in months. Leonor had been on board for a six-month journey as part of her military training.
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The Spanish Royal Family's relationship with religion has changed under King Felipe
King Felipe VI, born on 30 January 1968, is the current monarch of Spain and head of state. He ascended the throne after his father, King Juan Carlos I, abdicated in his favour. The Spanish Royal Family is Roman Catholic, but the King is not the head of the Church, unlike in the United Kingdom. Religious authorities in Spain are considered emissaries of God on Earth, and therefore stand above the King.
The relationship between the Spanish Royal Family and religion has seemingly undergone a change under King Felipe. While the King and Queen's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church, the King has chosen to separate the religious life of the family from the public. This could be due to a number of factors, such as the rise in the Muslim population of Spain, the increasing number of immigrants from non-Catholic countries, and the younger generation's tendency towards atheism. The King's decision to practice his religious beliefs behind closed doors may be an attempt to show more inclusivity and to demonstrate that he is a monarch for all his citizens, not just Roman Catholics.
This change in the Royal Family's relationship with religion could have significant repercussions on state protocol. It could lead to a reshaping of relations between the State and the Catholic Church, and even the removal of the preferential status that the Vatican City State is currently accorded in bilateral relations. However, this change is still a long way off, as the Roman Catholic Church remains a powerful influence in the country and within the Spanish Royal Family.
King Felipe has also supported initiatives to normalise relations with the Jewish people and religion. In 1990, he awarded the Sephardic Jewish communities with the Prince of Asturias Award. In 2015, he hosted a ceremony in the Royal Palace to celebrate the approval of a law granting Spanish nationality to the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. During his ascension speech, Felipe pledged a "renewed monarchy for a new time". He also changed the protocol to allow people to take the oath of office without a crucifix or Bible, demonstrating a more secular approach to his role as monarch.
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The Pope is considered to be above the King of Spain in the religious hierarchy
The Spanish Royal Family is Roman Catholic. The current royal family is represented by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, and the king's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía.
While the Spanish monarchy is constitutionally referred to as "The Crown", the king is not the head of the church, unlike in the United Kingdom. In fact, religious authorities, such as bishops, archbishops, and the Pope, are considered to be above the King of Spain in the religious hierarchy. This is because they are viewed as emissaries of God on earth. This is evident when the king and queen bow and kiss the ring of bishops and archbishops, and bow, curtsey, and kiss the hand of the Pope.
The Pope is technically on the same level as the King, as they are both considered Heads of State. However, for Roman Catholics, the Pope is not merely a Head of State, but the direct expression of God's will on Earth, and therefore enjoys a higher status even among other Heads of State. This also translates to diplomacy, as all Catholic-majority countries, including Spain, follow a rule that the Apostolic Nuncio, the Ambassador for Vatican City State, is the only ambassador who is not ranked according to length of service in the country, but is always ranked first.
While the Spanish Royal Family remains Catholic, there has been a shift under the rule of King Felipe, who has chosen to live his faith more privately. This may be due to the increasing number of young people coming to Spain from non-Catholic countries, as well as a general trend towards atheism among the younger generation. This could lead to a reshaping of relations between the State and the Catholic Church, and possibly even the removal of the preferential status that Vatican City State is currently accorded in bilateral relations.
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Queen Sofía converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Catholicism upon her marriage
The current Spanish monarchy, comprising the reigning monarch and their family, is officially Catholic. The current king, Felipe VI, and his wife, Queen Letizia, have had both their daughters confirmed into the Catholic Church. However, there is a general tendency for the younger generation in Spain to lean towards atheism. This shift in the religious landscape of the country has influenced the way the Royal Family practises its faith. King Felipe and Queen Letizia have chosen to live their faith in a more private manner, for instance, by cancelling their appearance at the Easter Mass in Palma de Mallorca.
Queen Sofía, the mother of King Felipe VI, was born Princess Sofía of Greece on 2 November 1938. She was the eldest child of King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederica. She married Juan Carlos of Spain, who was then Infante Juan Carlos of Spain, in 1962 and became queen in 1975 when her husband acceded to the throne. Queen Sofía was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church before her marriage. She converted to Catholicism before her marriage to Juan Carlos in 1956.
Queen Sofía's conversion from Greek Orthodoxy to Catholicism was likely influenced by the dominant religion in Spain at the time, which was Catholicism. It is not uncommon for royals to change their religious affiliations when moving to another country. This may be done to improve their standing with the people or to foster a sense of unity within the country. In the case of Queen Sofía, her conversion may have been seen as a way to make her a more acceptable queen to the Catholic majority in Spain.
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The Spanish Royal Family's religion is influenced by the increasing diversity of Spain
The Spanish Royal Family is Roman Catholic. The current monarch, King Felipe VI, and Queen Letizia's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church. The Spanish monarchy is constitutionally referred to as The Crown, and it comprises the reigning monarch, their family, and the Royal Household. The Royal Family is currently represented by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and the king's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía.
The increasing diversity of Spain may be influencing the Royal Family's religion. Spain is one of the world's most religious countries, with a powerful influence from the Roman Catholic Church. However, there is a growing tendency among the younger generation towards atheism, and an increasing number of young people coming to Spain from non-Catholic countries. This may explain why King Felipe and Queen Letizia have chosen to live their faith in a more private manner.
Historically, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the country. They were responsible for the unification of Spain and the religious unification of the peninsula through militant Catholicism. They established the Spanish Inquisition to ensure that converts to Christianity did not revert to their previous faiths.
Today, the King of Spain is not the head of the Catholic Church, as is the case in some other European monarchies. Instead, religious authorities, such as the Pope, are considered to stand above the King as emissaries of God on Earth. The King and Queen are expected to bow and kiss the ring of Bishops and Archbishops and the hand of the Pope when they meet.
The religious diversity of Spain, including the presence of other Christian denominations, atheism, and other religions, may be influencing the Royal Family's decision to live their faith more privately and to separate their religious life from their public duties. This could potentially lead to a reshaping of relations between the State and the Catholic Church in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Spanish Royal Family are Catholic. King Felipe and Queen Letizia's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church.
No, unlike in the United Kingdom, the King of Spain is not the head of the church. Religious authorities are viewed as standing above the King of Spain as emissaries of God on earth.
The Spanish Royal Family is headed by King Felipe VI and currently consists of the King, Queen Letizia, their children Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and Felipe's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía.
