Barcelona is preparing for a major papal visit from 9 to 11 June, with Pope Leo XIV due to travel through the city in the Popemobile on 10 June for events linked to the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death.
The Pope’s route to the Sagrada Família will cover about one kilometre along Rosselló street, from Roger de Llúria to the corner with Sardenya. Barcelona City Council set out the security and mobility plan on Thursday, with measures also covering the visit to Catalonia and its capital.
The Popemobile will be used more than once during the trip. On the evening of Tuesday 9 June, the Pope will circle the athletics track at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc during a vigil. On the morning of 10 June, he will also use the vehicle on Montserrat mountain, travelling between a bus park and the entrance to Plaça Santa Maria.
Security filters will be in place for people hoping to see the Pope on the route to the Sagrada Família. The Mossos d’Esquadra and Barcelona’s Guàrdia Urbana will deploy more than 6,000 officers over the three-day visit, including specialist units for personal protection, crowd safety and traffic management.
Mobility disruption will be strongest in Ciutat Vella, Eixample and Montjuïc. In Ciutat Vella, there will be traffic and parking restrictions around the Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace. In El Raval, streets around Sant Agustí parish, which the Pope will visit, and Plaça de la Gardunya will be closed on 9 and 10 June.
The Eixample will see the biggest impact, especially around the Sagrada Família. On 10 June and into the early hours of 11 June, a security perimeter will bring circulation and parking restrictions on streets including Diagonal, Rosselló, Marina, Sicília and Sardenya, affecting nine city blocks. Full mobility details are available on the Barcelona City Council website, and transport changes are set out by TMB. More Catalonia news
The centenary programme will centre on the blessing and inauguration of the Jesus tower. It will include a Eucharist inside the Sagrada Família basilica, followed by an outdoor blessing by the Pope. TMB will reinforce metro services on 9 June, adding four trains to L1, two to L3 and two to L5, while a shuttle bus will run between Plaça Espanya and the Olympic Stadium and the funicular will run every four minutes. On 10 June, metro service will rise further, with increases of about 23% from the afternoon, reaching 65% on L2 and 50% on L4. Sagrada Família station will be closed all day, and up to 15 bus lines will be diverted.