Pope Leo arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday as part of his ongoing visit to Spain, where he is scheduled to celebrate Mass at the iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica and bless its newly completed central tower, now making it the tallest church in the world.

On the fourth day of his Spanish tour, Pope Leo XIV departed Madrid after delivering a historic address to parliament and presiding over an open-air Mass attended by an estimated 1.5 million people.

Before leaving the capital, the Pope thanked thousands of volunteers who helped coordinate the large-scale security and logistical arrangements for his events, including a major gathering at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

In Barcelona, his itinerary includes a visit to the city’s Gothic Cathedral and a prayer vigil at the Olympic Stadium later on Tuesday. Large crowds of worshippers gathered outside the cathedral hours ahead of his arrival under tight security.

Although religious participation has declined in Spain over recent decades, a country historically known for its strong Catholic heritage, locals expressed optimism about the Pope’s reception. One resident, Roberto Crespo, said he expected a “very warm” welcome in the city, noting that faith remains more present than often assumed.

On Wednesday, Pope Leo is expected to meet inmates at a prison facility before visiting the Montserrat Abbey, located about 60 kilometres from Barcelona. He will later preside over the Mass at the Sagrada Familia.

The basilica, a renowned modernist masterpiece designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, attracted nearly five million visitors last year and remains one of Spain’s most visited landmarks.

The Mass will be held exactly 100 years after Gaudí’s death on June 10, 1926. The architect, a devout Catholic whose canonisation process is currently underway in the Vatican, died after being struck by a tram in Barcelona while on his way to pray.

Following the service, Pope Leo will bless the central Jesus Christ tower, which was completed in February. The addition brings the basilica to its full height of 172.5 metres, officially making it the tallest church structure in the world.

Construction of the Sagrada Familia is still ongoing, with full completion expected within the next decade.

After his engagements in Barcelona, the Pope is scheduled to travel to the Canary Islands later in the week, where he will meet migrants and humanitarian workers and pay tribute to those who lost their lives attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing.