Following a brief reception at El Prat Airport, the Pontiff proceeded to Barcelona Cathedral, where he commenced his visit with the recitation of the Midday Prayer (Hora Media). This liturgical act was marked by a homily in Catalan and Spanish, in which Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of a "climate of family, solidarity, openness, capable of mercy and forgiveness," recalling Barcelona's tradition in this regard.

The Supreme Pontiff's visit to the Catalan capital also includes a visit to the crypt to pray before the tomb of Saint Eulalia, the city's patron saint, and a tour of the Cathedral's cloister, where the Ou com balla fountain is located. This schedule is part of his apostolic visit to Spain, which has also included Madrid and will later take him to the Canary Islands.

The Pope's arrival has generated great anticipation in Barcelona, with hundreds of people waiting in the Cathedral square. The visit coincides with the first day of the PAU (university entrance exams), a fact that the Government has assured will not affect the normality of the tests, thanks to reinforced public transport and coordinated schedules for papal events.

The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has announced that he will ask the Pope to use Catalan during his greeting at the Sagrada Familia, a gesture that underscores the importance of Catalonia's own language. Illa will also present him with a letter and various institutional gifts, such as a reproduction of the Homilies d’Organyà.

Security in Barcelona has been reinforced with a large deployment including agents from the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the Urban Guard. Traffic diversions and mobility restrictions are expected in various areas of the city, particularly around the Cathedral, Montjuïc, and Eixample, to ensure the smooth running of events.