By Paul Samasumo \u2013 Barcelona<\/b><\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Barcelona for the second leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain.<\/p>\n
Visting the city these few days before the Pope\u2019s arrival, we found it literally buzzing with activity. Authorities have been busy cleaning streets and fixing walkways.<\/p>\n
There are teams of workers everywhere. The Church has also been preparing venues.<\/p>\n
Although the talk is about Pope Leo on the streets and in cafes, people are also going their usual business in a normal way\u2014they are walking children to school and riding their bikes and sitting at tables on the streets. There is, however, a visible security presence but all is generally, calm.<\/p>\n
On some streets there are flyers in the symbol of a dove welcoming Pope Leo and they proclaim: \u201cBenvingut<\/i>!\u201d\u2014Catalan for \u201cWelcome\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Banners of the Pope’s visit to Barcelona <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Another prominent word is PAU<\/i>, which we were told in Catalan means peace.<\/p>\n Clearly Pope Leo is seen as a man of peace. Someone who can encourage the world to live in peace. This visit is profoundly spiritual and pastoral.<\/p>\n The story of Barcelona is sometimes said to be the story of the Temple and the city.<\/p>\n Barcelona has been designated as the World Capital of Architecture for 2026. This is in recognition of its rich history in pioneering urban planning.<\/p>\n The Masterpiece of Barcelona is, without doubt, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia<\/i>. It\u2019s a world-renowned landmark designed by the architect Antoni Gaud\u00ed.<\/p>\n ![\"Banners](\"http:\/\/www.vaticannews.va\/content\/dam\/vaticannews\/multimedia\/2026\/giugno\/09\/IMG_7719.jpg\/_jcr_content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg\" "\\"Banners")
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