Archbishop of Tarragona Welcomes Pope, Calls for Unity

Joan Planellas hopes the Holy Father's words will resonate with Gospel simplicity and depth.

Generic image of religious symbols.
IA

Generic image of religious symbols.

The Archbishop of Tarragona, Joan Planellas, has welcomed Pope Leo XIV to Catalunya, calling for the visit to be experienced in unity and for his words to resonate with Gospel depth.

With the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Catalunya imminent, the Archbishop of Tarragona, Joan Planellas, has expressed his hope that the Holy Father's teachings "will resonate among us with the simplicity and depth of the Gospel." Planellas anticipates that the Pontiff will encourage believers to focus on Jesus Christ and to rediscover inner life, silence, and prayer amidst a fast-paced and uncertain social landscape.
The Archbishop emphasized that the Holy Father's voice will also be a call to social responsibility, urging a focus on the dignity of all individuals, particularly the vulnerable such as the poor and migrants, in line with the Church's social doctrine. "Faith does not distance us from the world; it sends us into it as witnesses of fraternity, justice, and peace," Planellas stated.
Regarding the organizational efforts for the visit, Planellas publicly thanked the volunteers and professionals involved, as well as the crucial role of Cardinal Joan Josep Omella in facilitating the Pope's presence in Catalunya. He also acknowledged the coordination efforts of Auxiliary Bishop David Abadias and Father Enric Puig.
Finally, the Archbishop refuted any perceptions of discord among Catalan bishops, affirming an excellent relationship between the prelates and clarifying that discussions about church issues should not be portrayed as conflicts. He invited the faithful to embrace Pope Leo XIV's visit with joy, unity, and affection.