Barcelona pro-independence organisations are calling on supporters to display Catalan independence flags, known as estelades, at a reception for Pope Leo XIV. The appeal comes amid criticism that Spanish authorities are trying to present architect Antoni Gaudí as a Spanish figure rather than a Catalan one.
In a joint statement, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Òmnium Cultural, the Council for the Republic, the Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI), and the Spiritual League said they are behind the initiative. The groups say Gaudí’s Catalan identity is being downplayed.
The organisations say they are denouncing what they describe as the “Hispanification” of Gaudí. They argue that this approach weakens Catalonia’s cultural heritage and its distinct national identity.
The call to show estelades is their response to that dispute, with the aim of making Catalan symbols visible during a high-profile international visit. The groups have not said the exact date or location of Pope Leo XIV’s reception in Catalonia.
The issue sits within a wider debate over cultural representation and national identity in Catalonia. For more local coverage, see our news page.
