Pope León XIV began a two-day visit to Barcelona on Tuesday, the second leg of his trip to Spain, arriving to a festive atmosphere largely free of the nationalist protests some had anticipated. The pontiff landed at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport at 12:45 after a delayed departure from Madrid, where he had bid farewell to 12,000 volunteers at the IFEMA fairgrounds. During the flight, he spent time in the cockpit and joked with the pilots, saying, "Soy blanco, en Barcelona hay que tener cuidado" ("I'm a Real Madrid fan, in Barcelona you have to be careful").

A city's embrace

At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, the Pope presided over the Midday Prayer before descending to the crypt to pray at the tomb of Saint Eulalia, the city's patron. He also visited the cloister to witness the 'ou com balla' (the dancing egg), a Corpus Christi tradition dating to the 15th century. Outside, the crowd was notably young, with many school groups and families with small children. The Latin American community turned out in force, waving flags from Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Peru alongside Vatican and Spanish banners. Notably absent were the pro-independence 'estelada' flags, with none visible on balconies or streets and barely any inside the stadium.

“The Pope is from Castefa. It's a joke, but we are very, very excited.”

Calls for unity and dignity

In his homily at the Cathedral, León XIV called on Catalans and Spaniards to be "builders of unity" in a world torn by division. Later, before 40,000 faithful at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, he returned to the theme, speaking in both Catalan and Spanish.

“Let us walk together in the faith that harmonizes the diversity of our ideas and sensibilities, to seek the truth that guides us toward the common good, so that this country may be a welcoming space for all, where each person is respected in their dignity and loved for who they are.”

He also addressed what he called the "invisible evil of mental health" and condemned violence against women and the "cult of image," urging both personal and societal responses to these challenges.

A Catalan welcome

As the Pope entered the stadium in the popemobile, the Castellers de Vilafranca performed a 'tres de vuit'—an eight-story human tower made of groups of three—a tradition declared UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. The 'colla' had held a final rehearsal the night before for what was one of their most high-profile performances in nearly 70 years of history. Before the vigil, León XIV blessed a convoy of vehicles bound for Ukraine, part of a humanitarian corridor organized by the Convent of Santa Clara de Manresa, including ambulances from the Catalan emergency services and vehicles from the regional police.

Political backdrop

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, saw the Pope off at Barajas airport and sent a pointed message toward Catalonia. "I hope that in the end, selfish independentism does not ruin the wonderful moments that Barcelona and Spain will continue to give to the world," she said. The Pope was received in Barcelona by the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, along with other regional and local officials. A private meeting between the pontiff and Illa was scheduled for later in the day.

Looking ahead

The Barcelona visit, lasting just under 48 hours, marks the first papal trip to the Catalan capital in 16 years, since Benedict XVI in November 2010. On Wednesday, León XIV is scheduled to visit the Brians 1 penitentiary center, preside over the Holy Rosary at the Abbey of Montserrat with the Escolania choir, meet vulnerable groups at the Church of San Agustín, and bless the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Familia, coinciding with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death. He will then fly to the Canary Islands on Thursday to conclude his Spanish tour.