This expectation was confirmed following the meeting between Cardinal Cobo and the Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the 'number two' of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. Also present at the meeting were the President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Luis Argüello, and the Archbishops of Barcelona, Juan Josep Omella, and the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos.
“"Will there be a trip? Yes, at least that is the interest the Pope has."
The city of Barcelona is shaping up to be the main focus of the trip. Spanish bishops take it for granted that the visit would culminate with the Pontiff's presence at the Sagrada Família, possibly on June 10. This date would coincide with the celebrations for the centenary of the death of the architect Antoni Gaudí, closely linked to his beatification process.
The other proposed venues in this initial draft are Madrid and the Canary Islands. The visit to the Canarian archipelago responds to the desire expressed by Pope Leo XIV's predecessor, Pope Francis, to visit the area due to the migratory phenomenon. Cobo assured that Pope Leo XIV has already taken on the issue of migration at the beginning of his pontificate.
