Barcelona has received the Popemobile ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s three-day visit from 9 to 11 June, with a major security operation now under way in the city. The vehicle arrived on Sunday afternoon at El Prat Airport, marking one of the key logistical steps before the pontiff’s stay in Catalonia.
The papal vehicle was transported by military aircraft and arrived covered by tarpaulins. It was escorted by National Police and Guardia Civil vehicles, with plainclothes security also part of the convoy, according to ACN. The Popemobile left the airport shortly after 12:40 and was taken by crane to a secure location. The operation passed without incident.
Trànsit Aeri Catalunya had earlier said an Airbus A400M from the Spanish Air and Space Force, flying from Rome, was likely carrying the Popemobile and other material for the visit. The arrival is part of the wider preparation for the Pope’s time in Barcelona, including events at the Sagrada Família and other stops across the city and beyond.
On Tuesday 9 June, Pope Leo XIV is due to greet the public at Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, where he will complete a lap of the athletics track during a community prayer vigil. The event can hold about 37,000 people and will include musical performances. On Wednesday 10 June, the Popemobile will travel to Montserrat for a short route between the bus car park and Plaça de Santa Maria, before the Pope prays the Rosary at the basilica.
Later that afternoon, he is due to travel through central Barcelona on a 1-kilometre route from the Episcopal Palace to the Sagrada Família along Carrer Rosselló. At the basilica, he will celebrate mass and bless and inaugurate the Jesus Christ tower. The visit also includes Brians prison, outside Barcelona, and a meeting at Sant Agustí parish near La Rambla, which is run by Augustinian friars, the order to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.
The visit is expected to bring one of the largest security operations ever seen in Catalonia. Mossos d’Esquadra and Guardia Urbana de Barcelona will deploy more than 6,000 officers over the three days. Street closures are expected, especially in Eixample, and the Sagrada Família metro station will close on 10 June. Two giant screens will be set up at Glòries and Arc de Triomf so more people can follow the events. For updates on city impact and local coverage, see our Community and Sport pages.
