News
Cibeles and Lima will close because of the Pope’s visit to Madrid
Madrid is preparing for one of those weeks when it is worth looking at the map before leaving home. Pope Leo XIV’s visit will force two key city points to close to traffic: Plaza de Lima, next to Santiago Bernabéu, and Plaza de Cibeles, one of the central area’s main hubs.
Major closures will begin on 3 June on Lima. The following day, 4 June, it will be Cibeles’ turn. These will not be minor closures: they will affect the Castellana–Recoletos axis and a large part of the usual routes of people crossing Madrid by car, taxi, bus or motorbike.
The main events will be held between 6 and 9 June. The youth vigil will take place around the Bernabéu, while Cibeles will host the large Mass. The expectation of a massive attendance has forced the City Council to prepare a special traffic, security and public-transport operation.
Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida has already asked companies to facilitate remote working and flexible hours during those days. The message is clear: anyone who can avoid travelling through the centre or along the Castellana would do well to do so. For many workers, residents and businesses in the area, the week will require patience and some improvisation.
EMT services will be free on the key days of the operation, a measure intended to reduce car use and absorb part of the anticipated movement. Even so, buses will also be diverted, because many lines pass precisely through the areas that will be closed or fenced off.
Residents will be able to access their homes, but not as on an ordinary day. There will be controls, security filters and restrictions depending on the stage of the operation. Park-and-ride car parks and shuttle services will also be provided for people arriving from outside Madrid who do not want to drive into the centre.
For the city, it will be a historic occasion, but also a top-level logistical test. Madrid is used to Champions League finals, demonstrations, celebrations and large concerts; even so, closing both Cibeles and the area around the Bernabéu for several days at the same time is no small matter. That week, arriving on time will depend less on habit and more on having chosen the route well before setting out.