The Minister of Justice and Democratic Quality, Ramon Espadaler, has reviewed the recent visit of Pope Leo XIV to Catalonia, addressing both institutional aspects and the controversies that arose. One of the most prominent was the ban on approximately 600 people entering the Sagrada Familia for carrying esteladas and scores of the traditional Catalan song.
Espadaler has expressed clear support for the police operation and the decision made by the Vatican and the temple's board. "The Sagrada Familia governs the liturgical acts," argued the minister, stating that "in a liturgical act, nothing else is appropriate [...], there are no symbols of any kind, no flags within a liturgical act." The police's role, he explained, was "to ensure that this liturgical act could proceed as it did, with complete normality, no more, no less."
Regarding the cost of the papal visit, which some rumors placed at 25 million euros, the minister clarified the actual figures provided by the Generalitat de Catalunya. As part of a three-way agreement with the Archdiocese and the Barcelona City Council, the Government allocated "approximately 2,800,000 euros," funded by the tourist tax to avoid impacting citizens' taxes. Espadaler considers the investment justified by the "planetary impact" of the basilica's images and has guaranteed full transparency in the auditing of expenses.
The Pontiff's visit also included social events, such as the stop at Brians I prison, making Leo XIV the first Pope to visit a state penitentiary. The minister highlighted the emotional weight of this encounter, where the Pope conveyed messages of hope to the inmates. The Government also celebrates the Vatican's "sensitivity" regarding the use of Catalan, a language the Pope used in all his engagements.
Security in Barcelona has once again become a central issue following a murder on Balmes Street shortly before the papal visit. Faced with growing social alarm, Espadaler has announced a legal offensive to amend the Penal Code and toughen penalties for the possession and display of weapons, both bladed and firearms, urging the central Government to align with European legislation. Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior will increase police presence.
Finally, in the area of Justice, Espadaler lamented the decline in Catalan-language rulings, from 20% in the 2000s to a "scandalously low" 7% currently, and called for "co-responsibility" to reverse this trend.
