Pope Benedict XVI is meeting with the Spanish royal family and separately with prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero on the second day of his visit to the country.

Later, the pontiff will travel 30 miles north-west of Madrid to the El Escorial monastery where he will meet with young nuns and members of religious orders and Catholic university professors.

His addresses to them are expected to touch on some of his major themes such as the role of God in a secular world and the need for young people to be taught to seek truth.

He will then return to Madrid for lunch with World Youth Day volunteers and then take part in an evening re-enactment of the Way of the Cross procession, a staple of World Youth Days.

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