Pope to visit Brians 1 prison during Catalonia trip in June

The Pope will visit Brians 1 prison during his official trip to Catalonia in June, the Vatican confirmed on Wednesday, releasing details of his wider visit to Spain.

Leo XIV is due to arrive at Barcelona–El Prat airport shortly after noon on Tuesday, June 9, coming from Madrid.

After landing, he will attend a prayer service at Barcelona Cathedral.

That evening, he is scheduled to take part in a large public prayer vigil at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

On Wednesday morning, he will visit Brians 1 prison in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Baix Llobregat county, where he will greet some inmates.

He will then travel to Montserrat Abbey, where he will pray, deliver an address and have lunch with the Benedictine community.

In the afternoon, the Pope will visit the Church of Saint Augustine (Sant Agustí) in Barcelona's Raval neighborhood, where he will meet with diocesan charity and welfare organizations.

On Wednesday evening, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at the Sagrada Família basilica, where he will inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ, marking 100 years since the death of architect Antoni Gaudí.

Early on Thursday morning, the Pope will depart Barcelona–El Prat for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

The trip begins in Madrid, where the Pope will meet Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, hold talks with political leaders including the Spanish prime minister, and address Congress, alongside large public events.

Prison and monastery

During a press conference in Madrid on Wednesday, Barcelona archbishop Cardinal Joan Josep Omella said the Pope's time near the Catalan capital would focus on two key sites: Brians 1 prison and Montserrat monastery.

He described the prison visit as representing "the world of pain and deprivation of freedom, which is very present in the Church," while Montserrat would highlight "the world of contemplation and the praying Church."

"Montserrat represents all monasteries in Spain and is a symbol of Catalonia," he said.

Camp Nou ruled out

Organisers said they considered holding an event at FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium, but the plan was ultimately ruled out due to ongoing renovation works.

"An attempt was made for the Holy Father's meeting with the people of God to be held at the Barça stadium, but it is under construction, and stopping the works to prepare it would have required a long period of around 15 days, and restarting them another 10 or 15," said Jesuit Enric Puig, who is responsible for the visit to Catalonia. "The Barça board considered it and asked us to hold it in another location."