Barcelona City Council has given a positive assessment of the security and mobility operation put in place for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city. Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle said the plan helped the events run safely and smoothly, with strong public attendance.
The operation brought together municipal services, security forces, emergency services, event organisers and other administrations. According to the council, it passed without significant incidents and showed Barcelona’s capacity to host complex events.
To manage the visit, more than 2,500 municipal barriers were installed to mark security perimeters and guide pedestrian flow. The Popemobile route alone used 1,600 barriers along its urban path, while 850 New Jersey-type protection elements were placed at strategic points to improve road safety and prevent unauthorised access.
The area around the Sagrada Família had a perimeter of more than 3.5 kilometres, using different types of barriers. The system also included mobile access control racks, which allowed the operation to be adjusted in real time as needed.
For mobility, 1,300 temporary traffic signs were installed to reduce disruption across the city. The council said traffic fell by 7.2% on Tuesday and by 11.3% on Wednesday, 10 June. Public transport validations were down 11% on Tuesday and 36% on Wednesday, and traffic returned to normal by early Thursday morning.
The operation involved 1,900 Guàrdia Urbana officers, 230 cleaning staff in 83 teams, 60 civic agents and 60 people managing barriers and signs. Staff from SPCPEIS, CUESB and other municipal services also took part. The visit drew an estimated 180,000 people across Barcelona, including at the Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium, Sant Agustí and the Sagrada Família. For more Barcelona coverage, see our news page.