The arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Catalonia has generated significant anticipation. Following his stay in Madrid, the pontiff landed around 1 PM at Barcelona - El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport. According to information from the X account @FlightradarCAT, specializing in air traffic, the flight was conducted in a "standard and usual" manner, refuting rumors of special maneuvers such as a flyover of the Sagrada Familia or a low pass.

The papal plane was escorted by a military aircraft from the Zaragoza Air Base and several other aircraft throughout the journey, as indicated by the specialized account. This aerial surveillance was intensified in the Barcelona area to ensure security during the pontiff's arrival.

Furthermore, notable air activity was registered in the Sabadell area. A Super Puma helicopter, previously sighted near Montserrat and the Brians 1 prison – two of the locations the holy father will visit – arrived from Madrid. Additionally, a helicopter from the Mossos d'Esquadra, having taken off from the Sabadell base, has been circling Barcelona for aerial surveillance duties.

The interest in this aerial operation was so high that the Flightradar24 app, used by aviation enthusiasts, ranked the papal aircraft among the top five most tracked worldwide, with nearly 1,500 people following it live.