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Mossos monitor the papal visit with more than 250 live cameras
The visit of León XIV to Barcelona has triggered one of the largest security operations ever seen in Catalunya. More than 7,000 officers are taking part in an operation that combines police presence on the streets, access controls, aerial surveillance, and a new real-time monitoring system.
The most visible part is around the events, the official routes, and the areas with the highest concentration of people. But the heart of the operation is far from the streets: in the Sala Central de Mandos at the Egara complex, where the Mossos d’Esquadra coordinate every movement of the papal visit.
The Catalan police have launched a video surveillance system that connects more than 250 cameras. The footage comes in live from fixed cameras, vehicles in the convoy, officers’ personal devices, drones, and the police helicopter, allowing the progress of the operation to be tracked from different points in the city.
The aim is to detect any incident immediately and make decisions without waiting for information to arrive through slower channels. During a visit involving travel, large gatherings, and mobility restrictions, a few minutes can be crucial for reorganising access, reinforcing an area, or opening an alternative route.
The feed is also shared with other forces and institutions involved in security, such as Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil, Guardia Urbana, Casa Real, Presidencia del Gobierno, and the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio. The Pope’s visit does not depend on a single force, but on constant coordination between administrations.
To avoid connection failures, coverage has been reinforced at strategic points and some vehicles are equipped with satellite links. The idea is for the system to maintain transmission even if a camera, antenna, or specific connection stops working during the operation.
The Sala Central de Mandos will operate non-stop for 60 hours and has added a hundred extra personnel. From there, routes, access points, crowds, and any changes that could affect the visit or mobility in Barcelona are monitored.
The deployment means more controls, more police presence, and possible disruptions to travel. For the Mossos, it is a test of technological coordination at a high-profile public event, where security is managed both on the streets and on the screens at Egara.