Barcelona was the setting for Pope Leo XIV’s first homily in Catalonia on Tuesday, delivered at Barcelona Cathedral. He urged Christians to accept peace, harmony and unity, and said people in Barcelona and across Catalonia have a “vocation to become builders of unity”.
The Pope spoke partly in Catalan, and said that unity may require sacrifice. He encouraged the faithful to “renounce the superfluous and build what is essential”.
He also referred to Barcelona as “Cap i Casal de Catalunya”, meaning head and home of Catalonia, and said this gives the city and its people a special responsibility to help build unity, with God’s help.
The homily marked a notable religious moment for Catalonia, with its use of Catalan standing out as a direct gesture to the local congregation and wider Catalan society. The message centred on reconciliation and shared purpose, themes that remain central within the Catholic Church.
Officials said the address was intended to encourage collective responsibility among Catalans. It comes as questions of regional identity and cohesion continue to shape public debate in Catalonia.
For more Catalonia news, see our news tag. For background on the cathedral, see the official Barcelona Cathedral site and the Vatican website.