Barcelona was the setting for a meeting between Catalan President Salvador Illa and Pope Leo XIV, during which Illa presented the Pope with a replica of the historic Ivory Doll. The gift was described by officials as a symbol with deep roots in Catalonia’s early Christian past.
The original artefact is linked to Tarragona and is believed to date from the period of the first Christians in the city. That connection gives the replica a clear cultural and historical meaning, with Tarragona’s Roman and early Christian heritage placed at the centre of the gesture.
The Pope is in Catalonia for the second part of his Spanish visit. His programme includes blessing the Jesus Tower at the Sagrada Família, one of Barcelona’s best-known landmarks and a major milestone in the basilica’s construction.
The meeting also underlines the diplomatic and cultural links between Catalonia and the Holy See. For more Catalonia coverage, see our news tag page.
Read more official context on the Vatican website and the Barcelona City Council website.