At the doors of the Ateneu Sant Roc, an emblematic space in the Sant Roc neighborhood of Badalona, daily life unfolds amidst conversations and the start of cultural and educational activities. This center, visited twice (2016 and 2017) by Robert Prevost, then world prior of the Augustinian community and now known as Pope Leo XIV, has become a key point for the social transformation of the area.

The center's director, Anna Vicente, emphasizes the center's mission: "Our mission is to try to transform the lives of many people in the neighborhood." Prevost, during his visits, showed great sensitivity and understanding towards the work carried out there, even congratulating them in writing. A message that now, from his position as Pope, takes on special relevance, recalling that "many laypeople give us a great example and are the ones who best respond to the demands of the Gospel."

The Sant Roc neighborhood, originally built to resettle families affected by the 1962 floods and later enriched by new migratory waves, presents great cultural diversity. This diversity makes the center's work even more essential, aiming to "prevent many conflicts by making people know each other and, above all, recognize each other," explains Vicente. The center also focuses on offering job opportunities and fostering a sense of belonging to Badalona and Catalonia.

The Ateneu Sant Roc, a secular entity that uses parish spaces ceded by the parish of Sant Roc, offers a wide range of activities for all audiences. From Catalan language training and digital literacy for women, to study spaces, play areas, theater, and sports activities for children and young people. Initiatives like "Ateneu al Carrer" (Ateneu in the Street) seek to involve the entire community.