Pope Leo XIV 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 tower, which has made the church the tallest in the world.

The pontiff travelled from Madrid on the fourth day of his visit, following an address to the Spanish parliament and an open-air Mass attended by an estimated 1.5 million people.

Before departing the capital, the Pope met with thousands of volunteers who helped manage security and logistics for his large-scale public events, including a gathering held at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Monday.

In Barcelona, Pope Leo is expected to visit the city’s Gothic cathedral and later lead a prayer vigil at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening. Large crowds of worshippers gathered outside the cathedral hours ahead of his arrival amid heightened security arrangements.

Although religious observance has declined in Spain in recent decades, a country historically known for its strong Catholic heritage, many faithful expressed optimism about the Pope’s visit.

Roberto Crespo, a 44-year-old carpenter, said he expected a warm reception for the pontiff, noting that public faith may be stronger than commonly perceived.

“I think the people will show that there is more faith and more Catholicism than people generally think,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Pope is scheduled to meet with prisoners and visit the Montserrat Abbey, located about 60 kilometres from Barcelona, before celebrating Mass at the Sagrada Familia.

The basilica, designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, remains one of the world’s most visited religious sites, attracting nearly five million visitors last year despite still being under construction.

This year’s Mass is particularly symbolic, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death on June 10, 1926. The architect, a devout Catholic whose cause for sainthood is under consideration by the Vatican, died after being struck by a tram in Barcelona while on his way to pray.

Following the Mass, Pope Leo will bless the central Jesus Christ tower, which was completed in February and now stands at 172.5 metres, officially making the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world.

Full completion of the landmark basilica is expected within the next decade.

After his Barcelona engagements, the Pope is set to travel to the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday, where he will meet migrants, volunteers, and honour those who lost their lives attempting to reach the Atlantic archipelago.