Catalonia is preparing to host the pontiff for an official visit lasting almost 48 hours, the longest by a pope to the country. The papal agenda includes meetings at the Cathedral of Barcelona, a prayer vigil at Montjuïc, visits to Brians 1 prison and the Montserrat monastery, a meeting with charitable organizations in El Raval, and a final event at the Sagrada Familia. This visit coincides with the commemoration of the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí and the blessing of the tallest tower of his iconic temple.

The visit will begin on Tuesday with the pontiff's arrival at El Prat Airport, where he will be received by representatives of the Generalitat, including president Salvador Illa. Subsequently, he will proceed to the Cathedral of Barcelona for a moment of reflection and a homily, before lunch at the Episcopal Palace. In the afternoon, a large prayer vigil will take place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc, with thousands of attendees and the blessing of nearly 30 ambulances.

On Wednesday, the schedule includes a visit to Brians 1 prison, where he will meet with inmates and volunteers, followed by a transfer to Montserrat for a prayer and a speech marking the sanctuary's millennium. In the afternoon, in the El Raval neighborhood, the pontiff will visit the church of Sant Agustí to meet with representatives from Cáritas and individuals sharing testimonies on dependency and sex trafficking. The day will culminate at the Sagrada Familia, where he will meet King Felipe VI, visit Gaudí's crypt, and officiate a solemn mass before blessing the Tower of Christ the King.

The papal visit entails a significant security and mobility operation, with thousands of agents from the National Police, Mossos d'Esquadra, and Barcelona Urban Guard involved. Public transport will be reinforced, and the public will be urged to prioritize its use. Demonstrations by entities critical of the visit's cost and calls for the use of Catalan are also anticipated.