Barcelona was the setting for a tense scene at the Sagrada Família, where about 600 singers were expelled shortly before the blessing ceremony for the Jesus tower. Once outside the basilica, the group sang Els Segadors, the Catalan national anthem, while walking around the perimeter of the temple.
The singers were part of choirs due to perform in a mass led by Pope Leo XIV and were also scheduled to take part in a post-blessing show. According to Mossos sources, Spanish police officers responsible for security inside the Sagrada Família evacuated them through a back exit.
After they were outside, Mossos d'Esquadra officers pushed them to leave the area, singer testimonies said. A video by Jordi Balasch showed the group performing outside the basilica.
Witnesses among the singers said their removal was linked to the presence of estelades, Catalan independence flags, among their sheet music, and to their plan to sing Els Segadors inside the basilica. The Sagrada Família has defended the expulsion, but has not given specific reasons for it.
The incident took place during a major religious and cultural event in Barcelona, with the Pope’s presence and the completion of a key Sagrada Família tower drawing wider attention. For more Catalonia-wide coverage, see our news page.