Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 9 June, in the archbishopric of Barcelona, his residence in the Catalan metropolis, Leo XIV had several meetings. First, the Holy See Press Office reports via the Telegram channel, he met briefly with the president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa i Roca, with whom he held a conversation for about 15 minutes. At the end the Pope greeted some of the president’s collaborators.
Subsequently, the Pontiff addressed a brief greeting to the local Organizing Committee, thanking them for their efforts and work in preparation for his apostolic journey and finally imparting his blessing.
Then, the Pope had a meeting with around 200 participants in the MED26 Mediterranean Meeting, which is taking place these days in Barcelona. The Bishop of Rome, it is stated, «addressed some words to them, urging them to travel, in a geographical and spiritual sense, to reach those ports where men and women await the good news; he mentioned the many challenges facing the Mediterranean, particularly the Middle East, and expressed his gratitude and encouragement for the work aimed at making the world a better place, at building dialogue, at seeing that “there is richness in diversity and in diversity we can be united”. At the end of the meeting the Pope invited the participants to pray the “Our Father” together.
Finally, Leo XIV gathered with about 25 members of the Augustinian Family in Catalunya for a conversation with them. In an affectionate and friendly atmosphere, the Pope invited those present, his brothers, “not to close themselves off in communities, but to bring the richness of their spiritual life to everyone in the places where they live”. After giving the blessing, he greeted them individually.
