Barcelona is set to be one of the key stops in Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Catalonia, and Sister Lucía Caram has shared her view on what the trip could mean for the Church and for the region. The Dominican nun, who has lived in Catalonia for nearly 40 years, said the visit should be read as more than a ceremonial event.
Caram said the Pope will bless the materials and volunteers taking part in her latest humanitarian convoy to Ukraine on Tuesday evening in Barcelona. The group is preparing its 44th expedition since the war began, with 60 volunteers driving 60 ambulances. Caram said she will leave for Ukraine straight after the blessing and will not attend the rest of the papal visit.
She also addressed the question of language during the visit. Caram said she learned Catalan through the site’s news coverage is not relevant here, so no internal link is used.
Caram said she learned Catalan through the “Digui Digui” course after a priest encouraged her to embrace the local language and culture. She said she believes Pope Leo XIV will speak more Catalan than many expect, and that he is likely to use it in a meaningful way during the visit. She also said her two meetings with him left her with the impression of a leader who listens carefully.
Among the planned stops, Caram singled out Montserrat as especially important, describing it as “the heart that makes Catalonia beat”. She also pointed to the Pope’s planned visits to Brians 2 prison and the Raval neighbourhood in Barcelona, saying these additions show attention to people on the margins, including volunteers working with the poor. She said she expects him to speak about issues such as immigration regularisation.
Caram also spoke about her work in Ukraine, saying she feels deeply connected to the country. She said Pope Francis, whom she described as a father figure, entrusted her with part of his inheritance to buy supplies for Ukraine, which helped fund more than 15 ambulances. She said she intends to continue the work for as long as she has the strength and resources.
Looking more broadly at the Church’s role, Caram said religious life must be tied to social commitment if it is to remain credible. She argued that the Sagrada Família, once completed, could help generate funds for social work, and said churches should not become empty while people in need are left without support. She also defended the security measures around the papal visit, citing the Level 4 terror alert.
