Government spokesperson, Consellera Sílvia Paneque, has sidestepped questions regarding the expulsion of six hundred singers from the Sagrada Familia. These singers were scheduled to participate in a post-visit event for Pope Leo XIV but were removed by agents of the Spanish police and Mossos d'Esquadra upon detection of Catalan flags ('estelades') on their sheet music. Paneque stated that "the government values the entirety of the events" and described the papal visit and the event at the Sagrada Familia as "a resounding success".
The controversy has been ongoing for days. The Sagrada Familia justified the decision by stating that the performance of "Els segadors" was not included in the officially approved program. Sources from the Mossos d'Esquadra indicated that internal security within the basilica was the responsibility of the Spanish police, although their own officers also participated in the expulsion and subsequent containment of the singers to prevent their return. According to these sources, accreditations explicitly prohibited "flags, banners, or political symbolism".
Yesterday, the singers sent a letter requesting explanations and apologies to the basilica, the Archdiocese of Barcelona, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Spanish government delegation. Six choral groups issued a statement condemning the expulsion as an "act of repression." Government spokesperson Paneque refused to comment on these statements, noting that most institutional government events include "Els segadors" and reiterating the focus on the "overall picture" of the events.
