Fifteen years have passed since the last visit of a pontiff to Spain and sixteen since Benedict XVI was received in Barcelona the year 2010. Tomorrow, around fifty Andorrans will have the opportunity to attend the papal vigil, officiated by the holy father Leo XIVwhich will take place inLluís Companys Stadiumin the heart of the magical mountain of the county town.
A journey that the lucky ones will experience with excitement, but without expectations. “The visit gives a great impetus to all believers to be able to express our faith”, he says Mercedes Camposone of the assistants. She asked for a party at work to be able to experience a historic day that moves her: “We believers must not remain silent, faith is something that burns inside us and that must come out with consistency.” Anna Villas, director of Caritas Andorranaalso expresses the luck of being able to share the moment with a large number of people: “The fact of being accompanied by 20,000 or 30,000 other people is a great blessing”. Although it will be difficult to see Leo XIV up close“the simple fact of sharing space with him already generates a great illusion”, an idea with which the Fito Tugues and Carme Sorribespastoral for the family and the life of the Bishopric of Urgellagree: “The pope’s visit is a moment of faith growth. Community-wise it is very interesting.”
“I decided to go there to see the response to the message that Leo XIV will give to young people”
The Christian movement is going through a moment of social rapprochement, with more and more young people interested in the postulates of the Church. Beyond the artistic proposals that have aimed to promote the faith – like the last album of Rosalia–, Esther Planes, coordinator of AINA and also present at tomorrow’s event, assures that more and more young people are approaching Christianity: “There are more young people who have signed up for the visit”. according to planssocial changes have caused some of today’s young people to feel more lost, and the Christian faith proposes “a new message” for future generations. “I decided to go there to see the response to the message to young people,” he says. For the Carme and Fito“the institution has always been designed for everyone” although they admit that there is now talk of an upswing among young people, especially in cities like Madrid or Barcelona. villason the other hand, highlights that Leo XIV has wanted to follow the legacy of Pope Francis “to open thechurch” and has a special interest in bringing the institution closer to young people.
“The visit is a moment of growth in faith. Communally it is very interesting”
A new pontiff maintains a key idea: finding peace. “This dad goes for work”, he says plans. “He has been brave and stood up to donald trump“, he affirms Monsignor Ramon. A fact that also satisfies fields: “He is a cautious man, but he has known how to stand up to politicians. He says things as they are, but he knows how to listen and always keeps a smile”. They also applaud the battle against the indiscriminate use of the artificial intelligence. “It’s clear that he can be of great help in some fields, but I don’t want him to think for me,” he says fields. according to Monsignor Ramon, Leo XIV has proposed “the fight against the dehumanization of humanity and that technology is in the hands of four people”. For You smile and smileis the historical moment of humanity “in the world of algorithms”.
“Being accompanied by 20,000 or 30,000 people is a great blessing”
The debate around language has also been placed on the table. Although not confirmed, it seems almost certain that Leo XIV will address the public in Catalan at some point during the vigil. “He is an intelligent man and he will be sensitive about this”, he says villas. “We would like the blessing to be in Catalan, but there are many political factors that will have to be seen”, they say You smile and hug. About a possible future visit to principalityvarious sensitivities coexist among the attendees. “I see it as complicated. I wouldn’t have any illusions”, remarks Sorribes, while villas keep hope
“Faith is something that burns inside us and that must come out with consistency”
After the visit by the capital of Spainto tomorrow Leo XIV will arrive in Barcelonawhere he will remain until Thursday, when he will be received at Canary Islands. The events in Madrid, which included the reception of King Philip VIhave a more political character, while the stop a Barcelona will have a more doctrinal underlying concept and the visit to the islands will be entirely focused on one of the other axes of the vatican: immigration.
“We would like the blessing to be in Catalan, but there are political factors that will have to be seen”
the keys
- A CHURCH MORE OPEN TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF NOW. More and more young people are approaching the proposals of the Church, which shows the institution as something more open to new generations away from passing fads.
- A PAPAL SPEECH FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING PEACE. Leo XIV’s speech is focused on several axes. The main thing, peace in the world. Then, the fight against the indiscriminate use of AI or against hatred against immigrants stands out.
- THE CATALAN WILL FLY OVER THE VETLLA. It is expected that the pontiff, who knows the sensitivity for the language, will make a gesture for Catalan during the event at the Lluís Companys Stadium during the blessing.
