Pope Leo XIV to lead 37,000-strong prayer vigil at Barcelona's Olympic Stadium

The first major public event of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Barcelona will be on Tuesday, June 9, when the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium will welcome around 37,000 people for an evening prayer vigil.

The gathering will be divided into two phases. From 6pm to 8pm, attendees will be welcomed with musical performances and moments of prayer. The second phase, from 8pm to 9.30pm, will include Eucharistic adoration and the Liturgy of the Word in the presence of the Pope.

Entry will be free of charge, with no religious requirement to attend, and tickets will be available online.

Sagrada Família

Pope Leo XIV's visit is being held under the motto 'Lift Up Your Gaze,' inspired by the act of looking up to contemplate the Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família, which the Pope is scheduled to bless on Wednesday, June 10.

That event – held on the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí – will conclude with a light show created specifically for the occasion.

The Pope's visit to the Sagrada Família will also be broadcast on screens set up outside the basilica for those unable to enter.

The pope's itinerary also includes visits to Brians prison and the Monastery of Montserrat, as well as a meeting at the parish of Sant Agustí in Barcelona. The church is run by a community of Augustinian friars, the religious order to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.

The journey to the Sagrada Família is expected to be made in an open-top car.

Church representatives have also indicated that the Pope will "say something in Catalan," as Benedict XVI did. "As a sign of deference, respect and consideration for the language, he is expected to speak in Catalan," they confirmed.

When asked whether a meeting with victims of Church abuse could take place, officials did not rule out the possibility.

Father Enric Puig, coordinator of the apostolic visit, said the programme is not fixed and that there is scope for possible meetings within the schedule.

Catalan government to hold official reception

The Catalan government will hold an "official reception" for Pope Leo XIV during his visit in June, according to justice minister Ramon Espadaler, although it remains unclear whether the meeting will take place at the Palau de la Generalitat.

Espadaler confirmed that the Pope will be received at Barcelona–El Prat Airport by President Illa, the speaker of the Catalan parliament Josep Rull, and the mayors of Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat.

The minister welcomed the inclusion of a brief visit to Brians 1 prison, saying it would deliver "messages of hope" to inmates.

Illa: Visit will showcase "human values" of Catalonia

President Salvador Illa has called for the Pope's visit to be used to "show the whole world that Catalonia is a land of human values."

Speaking at the opening of an exhibition on the Sagrada Família at the Palau Robert cultural centre, Illa said the Pope's stay should highlight that Catalonia is, "in a world where the most basic human values are at risk," a place of "coexistence, solidarity, welcome and dignity for all people."

He said the visit would place Catalonia in the "global spotlight" with strong international visibility, while also "reinforcing the link between faith and architecture."

"With the visit of Leo XIV, Barcelona and Catalonia will once again demonstrate that they are a city and a country with a universal outlook," Illa said.

Montserrat expects more than 10,000 

The Monastery of Montserrat is preparing to receive more than 10,000 people during Pope Leo XIV's visit on June 10, according to the Benedictine community.

The Pope will preside over the Rosary inside the basilica, which will include hymns sung by the monastery's world-renowned boys' choir, the Escolania de Montserrat.

Large screens will be installed outside the church so pilgrims gathered on the mountain can follow the service live.