Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spain Criticized For Giving Tax Break For Pope's Visit

STEVE INSKEEP, Host:

Lauren Frayer reports from Madrid.

LAUREN FRAYER: More than 100 priests from Madrid's poorest barrios posted a letter online saying they disagree with the cost and style of Pope Benedict's visit. Father Julio Saavedra says it's unfair how the Spanish government is giving tax breaks to companies like Coca-Cola and Santander Bank for sponsoring the visit.

JULIO SAAVEDRA: (Spanish spoken)

FRAYER: Chusa Gallego is a nurse who just took a 15 percent pay cut. She questions the timing of the pope's visit, given the cost.

CHUSA GALLEGO: Why now? Now that everybody is living with 500, 600 euros per month?

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL RINGING)

FRAYER: For NPR News, I'm Lauren Frayer, in Madrid. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Lauren Frayer covers India for NPR News. In June 2018, she opened a new NPR bureau in India's biggest city, its financial center, and the heart of Bollywood—Mumbai.