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Govern recommends working from home for the Pope's visit to Barcelona
Barcelona faces two days of difficult mobility due to Pope Leo XIV's visit. The Govern recommends that people who live or work in the Barcelona area work from home on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 June, provided their work allows it.
The measure seeks to reduce travel in a city that will have closures, access controls and large gatherings of people at key points. The Cathedral, Montjuïc, the Raval and Sagrada Família are among the areas where the greatest disruption is expected during the papal visit.
The warning also comes in a particularly sensitive week. Tuesday the 9th coincides with a teachers' strike called by unions opposed to the agreement with Education, while thousands of students begin the PAU. This mix of events, protests and examinations makes it necessary to adjust routines from the early hours.
Protecció Civil has activated Procicat to coordinate the arrangements and has asked the public to use common sense. The recommendation does not mean closing the city, but it does mean reducing unnecessary journeys as much as possible and planning any travel with more time than usual.
For those who need to get around, public transport will be the most practical option, although it may also come under greater pressure at certain times. In areas close to the events, access may be controlled and some streets will be restricted as the operation progresses.
The teachers' strike adds another layer of uncertainty for families, educational centres and students. The Govern insists that the mobility of those sitting university entrance examinations must be guaranteed, while the unions maintain their demands on investment and working conditions.
For businesses, offices and workers in the centre, the recommendation to work remotely can help avoid an overly congested day. Fewer journeys also mean less traffic, fewer queues and more room for those who do need to enter or leave the affected areas.
The Pope's visit will be a test of urban organisation. For two days, the city will have to accommodate mass events, protests, examinations and daily life. Anyone who can work from home will have a simple way to reduce pressure; anyone who cannot will need to check routes, timetables and notices before leaving.