▲ Pope Leo XIV enters the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc Hill in Barcelona aboard the Popemobile on June 9.
Pope Leo XIV, currently visiting Spain, will preside over a memorial mass for Antoni Gaudí, known as "God's Architect," and bless the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família, a landmark cathedral in Barcelona, on June 10 (local time).
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in March 1882, and its exterior was completed this year, 145 years later, in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death.
The memorial mass and blessing ceremony serve as the highlight of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain, which runs from June 6 to 12, and the country is showing great enthusiasm for the Pope's visit.
On June 7, 1.5 million people gathered for an outdoor mass held at Cibeles Square in the heart of the capital, Madrid.
On June 8, he became the first Pope to deliver a speech at the Spanish Parliament.
During this visit, the Pope has repeatedly emphasized peace, patience, dialogue, and solidarity and care for the vulnerable, while criticizing global polarization and rearmament.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, has been at odds with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently at war with Iran, through a series of anti-war messages.
Spain, led by the center-left Sánchez government, has been one of the strongest critics of the Middle East war and has maintained relatively generous immigration policies, though it is also experiencing a surge in right-wing sentiment, similar to other European nations.
Upon arriving in Barcelona on June 9, the Pope received a positive response by using not only Spanish but also the Catalan language while carrying out his schedule.
On the night of June 9, 40,000 young people flocked to the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc Hill for an overnight prayer event.
In Catalonia, the wealthiest and most independence-minded region in Spain, there is a sensitive atmosphere regarding the preservation of the local Catalan language.
Local youth confessed not only their faith but also life struggles such as depression and domestic violence, to which the Pope offered comfort and encouragement, saying, "God does not abandon us."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.