Barcelona is the focus of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit to Catalonia, but the journey began across the Lleida area, where nearly 400 faithful from the dioceses of Lleida, Urgell and Solsona travelled by coach on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, to attend the events in the Catalan capital.
An additional 600 people are expected to travel independently, bringing the total from the three dioceses to about 1,000 attendees for the pontiff’s engagements in Barcelona.
A dozen coaches left from points across Ponent and the Pyrenees. The Diocese of Lleida organised four coaches from the city’s Camp d’Esports. Urgell arranged two vehicles for 96 faithful, with one coach starting in Andorra and stopping in Sant Julià, La Seu d’Urgell and Bellver de Cerdanya, and the other leaving La Seu d’Urgell and stopping in Organyà, Oliana, Ponts and Guissona. Solsona sent six coaches carrying nearly 300 people, with departures from Bellpuig, Tàrrega, Solsona, Súria and two from Berga.
By 10am on Tuesday, more than three hours before the Pope’s scheduled arrival at Barcelona Cathedral, around 100 people had already gathered in the square. The crowd grew through the morning, with people of all ages carrying Vatican flags and blue scarves marked with the apostolic journey’s motto, “Alça la mirada” (Raise your gaze).
After arriving at El Prat airport, where he is due to be greeted by President Salvador Illa, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to go straight to Barcelona Cathedral. There he will be met by Cardinal Archbishop Joan Josep Omella and the cathedral dean, who will present him with the cross and holy water for aspersion. The Pope will lead Midday Prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, and deliver a homily before giving his blessing.
The Barcelona programme continues on Tuesday evening at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc, where more than 40,000 people are expected. On Wednesday, the second day of the visit, the Pope is due to visit Brians 1 prison in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, then travel to Montserrat and to Sant Agustí church in Barcelona’s Raval neighbourhood. The visit will end with the inauguration and blessing of the Jesus Christ tower at the Sagrada Família.
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