In pictures: Pope Leo XIV’s first day in Barcelona
Thomas Edwards
Jun. 10, 2026
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Pope Leo XIV’s first day in Barcelona saw prayer at the city’s cathedral, an appeal for unity and a youth vigil attended by more than 40,000 people. See the day in pictures
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Barcelona on the fourth day of his apostolic journey to Spain, beginning the Catalan stage of his visit with prayer at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia before addressing tens of thousands of young people at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Throughout the day, the Holy Father emphasised unity, urging Barcelona to be a city where “harmony and communion” overcome polarisation, before later reflecting on suffering, faith and hope during a vigil attended by more than 40,000 people. The images below capture moments from his first day in Barcelona, from encounters with pilgrims and volunteers to a night of prayer marked by Catalan culture, personal testimonies and the Pope’s assurance that, even in life’s darkest moments, “God does not abandon us”.
A pilgrim holds a hand-drawn sign reading “Papa León molas mogollón” (“Pope Leo, you’re really cool”) during the volunteer gathering at IFEMA Madrid, where Pope Leo XIV thanked the thousands of volunteers who helped organise his apostolic journey to Spain.(Photo: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío)Volunteers wearing the official orange-and-white uniform of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain gather at IFEMA Madrid ahead of the Holy Father’s final meeting in the capital, marking the conclusion of the Madrid stage of his visit before departing for Barcelona.(Photo: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío)Two religious sisters arrive for Pope Leo XIV’s meeting with volunteers at IFEMA Madrid. Spain has the lagest number of monasteries in the world, with a 2022 report putting the number of female religious at more than 27,000.(Photo: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío)Spanish singer and actress Carmen Conesa performs before thousands of volunteers who helped organise Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain.(Photo: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío)Pope Leo XIV addresses volunteers during a farewell gathering in Madrid, thanking them for their months of service and encouraging them to remain “firm in faith and generous in service”.(Photo: Gabriel Gonzalez-Andrío)
Cardinal José Cobo presents the chalice gifted by Pope Leo XIV to the Archdiocese of Madrid during the volunteers’ celebration.(Photo credit: Luismagan)
A pilgrim in Barecelona holds a sign reading “Papa Leo XIV, alço la mirada” (“Pope Leo XIV, I lift my gaze” in Catalan), a phrase taken from the title of the official hymn of the apostolic journey, as thousands gather for the prayer vigil at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.(Photo: Kike Rincón / Europa Press)Pilgrims draped in Vatican flags celebrate before the arrival of Pope Leo XIV at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium, where more than 40,000 people gathered for an evening of prayer, music and testimony.(Photo: Kike Rincón / Europa Press)Pope Leo XIV responds to questions from young people during the vigil at Montjuïc, addressing faith, suffering, depression and forgiveness through the story of Nicodemus, whom he described as a “pilgrim in the night”.(Photo: Pep Daudé)
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