Pope Leo XIV will visit Spain next month for a weeklong trip that includes inaugurating the central tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família basilica and meeting migrants, the Vatican announced Wednesday. The visit, scheduled for June 6–12, begins with meetings in Madrid with Spain’s government, parliament, and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. The pope then travels to Barcelona to preside over events connected to the basilica, including the inauguration and blessing of the central tower of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família. Several outlets report that the inauguration will take place during a solemn Mass and that it will include religious observances connected to Gaudí’s artistic and spiritual legacy.
In addition to the cultural and religious events in Spain’s mainland cities, the trip also includes a visit to a migrant reception center in the Canary Islands. The Vatican also says the pope will hold a prayer vigil with young people during the journey, recalling a previous papal visit, according to outlets summarizing the Vatican’s remarks.
