Pope Leo XIV Departs Catalonia for the Canary Islands After Intense Two-Day Visit

The pontiff bid farewell at El Prat airport after visiting the Sagrada Familia, prisons, and large public gatherings.

Papal plane taking off from Barcelona airport with the Sagrada Familia in the background.
IA

Papal plane taking off from Barcelona airport with the Sagrada Familia in the background.

Pope Leo XIV has concluded his visit to Catalonia, taking off from El Prat airport bound for the Canary Islands, following two days marked by symbolic and large-scale events.

The pontiff's journey concluded this Thursday at 08:45 AM. At the foot of the stairs, the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, bid farewell to Pope Leo XIV, wishing him a safe return and thanking him for his stay in Catalonia. The visit was described as "filled with emotion, symbolism, and large crowds," during which the pontiff made calls for Christian unity, peace, and welcome.
One of the most significant moments was the mass officiated at the Sagrada Familia, coinciding with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death, where the Tower of Jesus was blessed. Catalan was present in several speeches and greetings to the faithful, such as the "Bon dia i bona ora" directed at attendees at the Barcelona Cathedral.
Tuesday's schedule began with the arrival at El Prat Airport and a homily at the Barcelona Cathedral, where he urged Christians to work for peace. The afternoon was marked by a large event at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, with nearly 40,000 attendees, where the pontiff denounced violence against women and advocated for a "welcoming Catalonia for all".
On Wednesday, the visit included the Brians 1 penitentiary center, marking the first time a Pope visited a prison in Spain. There, he defended the capacity for "repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness." Later, at Montserrat, before more than 8,000 people, he thanked Catalonia for its welcoming attitude.
Wednesday afternoon culminated with a papamobile tour through the Eixample district of Barcelona, in front of over 120,000 people, and a solemn mass at the Sagrada Familia. The central event was the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus, the tallest in the world, accompanied by a light and drone show.
Also present at the farewell on the tarmac were other authorities, including the President of the Parliament, Josep Rull; the Government Delegate, Carlos Prieto; the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the President of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Lluïsa Moret; and the Archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella.