Montserrat, Catalonia, drew thousands of pilgrims on 10 June when Pope Leo XIV visited the abbey during the second day of his apostolic trip. The crowd included religious brotherhoods, parish groups and families from across the region, with a particularly strong turnout from Tarragona province.
People began arriving early at Plaça de Santa Maria, where flags, hymns and quiet conversation filled the square before the main events. The atmosphere mixed devotion and expectation, as groups from different towns shared the same space around the sanctuary.
Among those present was Pol Montserrat, a board member of the Cofradía de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat de Valls, which he said is the second oldest brotherhood in Catalonia. He said Montserrat has long been a special place for his family and that he had travelled with relatives to attend the visit. His cofradía is preparing to mark its centenary in 2028.
Roser Olivé, president of the Cofradía de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat de Tarragona, also attended with eight board members from the recently re-established group. Other faithful came from Tarragona city, Montbrió del Camp and Vinyols i els Arcs, while Laura Cívico, from the Sant Francesc parish in Tarragona, said she had arrived at 7am to be close to the Pope.
The day also brought moments of greeting and conversation as Catalan and Spanish bishops walked through the square. Among those noted by attendees were the Bishop of Tortosa, Sergi Gordo, and the Bishop of Urgell, Josep-Lluís Serrano, both with roots in the Terres de l'Ebre. For many present, the visit reinforced Montserrat’s role as a spiritual reference point for Catalonia.
For more Catalonia news, see our news tag. You can also read the official site for Montserrat and the Vatican for primary information on papal activity.
