Two masses are being provisionally planned for Pope Leo XIV’s potential visit to Barcelona this June, with one set to take place at the iconic Basílica de la Sagrada Família, according to Catalan President Salvador Illa. The President described the anticipated visit as highly significant for the city, though he stressed that official confirmation from the Vatican is still pending.
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Speaking in an interview on La 2 Cat on Wednesday, as reported by Europa Press, President Salvador Illa expressed his satisfaction with the developing plans. The potential visit follows a formal invitation that Illa extended to the pontiff during an audience last year, an offer made in agreement with the Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona, Juan José Omella.
“Unofficially it is taken for granted that he will come, they say on June 9 and 10, and I believe it is a very relevant visit,” Illa stated.
The planned mass at the Sagrada Família is laden with historical and cultural importance. President Illa noted that the ceremony would coincide with the finalization of the temple’s central Tower of Jesus Christ. This monumental milestone in the basilica’s construction aligns with the city’s ‘Año Gaudí’ (Gaudí Year) events, commemorating the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí‘s death in 1926. The completion of the tower, and indeed the entire basilica, has been a long-awaited event for Barcelona and the world.
While details remain tentative, the President confirmed that a second mass is also part of the preliminary schedule, though its location has not yet been disclosed. The President emphasized that the organisational details are still being developed and await a formal announcement from the Holy See.
“They have unofficially told me what the activities will be like, that they are being worked on, but the Vatican will announce it,” he added.
A papal visit by Pope Leo XIV would be a major event for the Catalan capital, drawing global attention and thousands of pilgrims. It represents a significant moment of collaboration between the political leadership of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the religious authority of the Archdiocese of Barcelona. As the city prepares for this potential historic occasion, all eyes are now on The Holy See for the official confirmation and final itinerary.
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