Barcelona is preparing for one of its largest police operations in recent years as Pope Leo XIV visits the city, with 5,600 Mossos d'Esquadra officers and 500 Guàrdia Urbana agents involved. The main security days are 9 and 10 June, with the strictest access controls centred on the Sagrada Família area in Barcelona.
Residents and workers around the basilica will face access checks from 7am on 10 June until the Pope’s event at the Sagrada Família ends, according to Major Jordi Guerrero, head of the Guàrdia Urbana’s Coordination Division, speaking on Betevé’s Bàsics. Guerrero said documentation will be used to verify who lives or works in the area, and that workers may be accompanied if needed to confirm they have a valid reason to be there.
There is currently no universal accreditation system for local residents, but Guerrero said police will use their authority to request and check documents. The aim, he said, is to manage a major event while keeping as much normality as possible in Barcelona. For readers following wider local coverage, see our news page.
One of the main concerns for the Guàrdia Urbana is the papal motorcade route to the Sagrada Família. Guerrero said the Pope will be very exposed on the route and that there is no prior reservation, which means people could be very close to him. He also said it is not yet known whether the vehicle will be armoured, and added that this is an area that worries police.
To manage the route, a double security fence will be set up on Rosselló Street, where the Popemobile will pass. The vehicle will be accompanied by its full security detail, and attendees will be searched for objects that could pose a risk. Security checks will also be in place at all cross streets leading into the area. Further details on resident accreditation are expected closer to the event.