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Pope Leo XIV surprises with his visit to the Church of Saint Augustine in the Raval
Barcelona is preparing for a visit that will change the city's rhythm for several days. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff and a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, will be there in June with a programme combining major icons and gestures laden with social symbolism, directly affecting mobility, security and everyday life.
The central event will take place at the Sagrada Família, where the Pope will bless the Tower of Jesus to coincide with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death. At 172.5 metres, the church will become the tallest church in the world, in a moment that will attract international attention.
But one of the most unexpected moves on the agenda points to the Raval. There, the parish of Iglesia de San Agustín will welcome the pontiff, who has wanted to learn first-hand about the neighbourhood's social work. The community is already preparing the space for a visit that transcends religion and focuses on urban reality.
The itinerary also includes stops at the Monastery of Montserrat and the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, while the security operation deployed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Mossos d’Esquadra is already becoming noticeable on key streets and access routes. Closures, checks and changes to transport are expected on 9 and 10 June.
The choice of San Agustín adds a historical dimension to the trip. It was in this same church that the Assemblea de Catalunya, one of the symbols of anti-Franco resistance, was formed in 1971. Decades later, the space is once again at centre stage with a visit that mixes memory, religion and current affairs.
The Pope's presence will not only have symbolic value: it will force the city to reorganise its rhythm, from mobility to economic and tourist activity. Barcelona therefore faces one of those moments when a global event transforms, even if only for a few days, the way people live and move through its streets.