In Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Pope Leo XIV began his first stop in Catalonia on Wednesday with a visit to Brians 1 prison.
The visit started before 6am outside the penitentiary, where Mossos d'Esquadra officers, vehicles and accredited staff arrived in steady numbers. The Pope was expected at about 10.50am.
On arrival, he was greeted by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Generalitat President Salvador Illa, Justice and Democratic Quality Minister Ramon Espadaler, Sant Esteve Sesrovires mayor Rosa Bruset and the Bishop of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Xavier Gómez. Espadaler was among the first to arrive, reaching the centre before 8am.
Inside the prison, 80 inmates, together with officials and politicians, waited for the Pope. The group included 13 women from Brians 1, 9 women from Wad-Ras, 26 men from Brians 1 and 32 men from Brians 2.
The ceremony began with the Spanish song Ayúdame a caminar and speeches from two inmates, Josefina and Montserrat. This was followed by the psalm El Senyor és el meu clam, then the traditional Catalan hymn Virolai.
The reception at Brians 1 lasted no more than 20 minutes, after which the Pope left for the monastery. For more Catalonia news, see our news tag.