Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni presented Pope Leo XIV with a painting by urban artist TVBoy on 9 June 2026, shortly after the pontiff arrived in Catalonia. The gift was made during a private meeting in the Santa Llúcia Chapel.
The artwork, created by the Italian-born, Barcelona-based artist, depicts the Pope, the silhouette of the Sagrada Família, and a dove of peace. TVBoy is a prominent artist in Barcelona, known for designing the official posters for Sant Jordi 2026 in the city.
Alongside the painting, Collboni gave the pontiff a special edition of the book Miró i els poetes catalans by Vicenç Altaió, and a reproduction of Antoni Gaudí's hexagonal tile, originally designed in 1904 for Passeig de Gràcia's pavements. The reproduction carried the message “Barcelona. Lloc de trobada, cultura i pau” in Catalan, Spanish and Italian.
Catalan President Salvador Illa also met Pope Leo XIV and gave him a facsimile of Les homilies d’Organyà, a collection of sermons considered one of the oldest literary texts in the Catalan language.
According to a press release from the City Council, Collboni said the visit helps “project to the world the values that define the city: respect, pluralism, democracy, equality, solidarity and commitment to peace and human rights.”
He also said Barcelona defends dialogue and coexistence against hatred and division, at a time marked by uncertainty, conflicts, polarisation and the expansion of authoritarianism. For more local coverage, see our news page.