Police will do "everything possible" to ensure that the Pope's visit is compatible with teacher protests

The Catalan police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, will deploy one of the largest devices in their history next week on the occasion of the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Catalonia.

More than 5,600 officers will be mobilized with most of the force's units taking part.

The general coordinator of the operation, superintendent Joan Salamaña, assured that they will do “everything possible with prudence and dialogue” so that the Pope’s visit “can be compatible” with the demonstrations that striking teachers have announced for Tuesday, June 9.

He also explained that the level 4 out of 5 reinforced terrorist alert remains, although there is “no specific threat,” and that they will have special vigilance in large crowds from the point of view of security and emergency.

In a meeting with journalists in front of the Sagrada Família, Salamaña explained that the authorities are well aware of the mobility and mass events they have to manage.

“We try to plan everything that can be planned, and we have to have a plan for how to resolve what cannot be,” he added.

He indicated that the Pope's visit is an "event of high institutional relevance, with a large influx of people and with a great projection in the media."

The police official explained that they are also working so that the Pope's visit can take place "with the least possible impact on the normal life of citizens, especially in Barcelona."