The linguistic controversy surrounding Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Barcelona has taken a turn as rapid as it was predictable. Just twenty-four hours after the Holy See released the missal for the celebration at the Sagrada Família and controversy erupted over the use of Spanish in the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Vatican has decided to introduce changes. Ultimately, the Pope will deliver the blessing in Catalan.
According to 3Cat, Leo XIV will incorporate Catalan into a ceremony that initially planned for the blessing to be entirely in Spanish. The decision comes after separatist leaders, institutional representatives, and various voices from Catalan ecclesiastical circles turned the language issue into the main topic of debate surrounding the papal visit.
A controversy that began with the publication of the missal
It all started on Monday, when the Holy See published the official missal for the visit. Although Catalan already had a notable presence in various parts of the celebration—including the Pope’s opening words in the basilica, a reading, the responsorial psalm, and other liturgical elements—the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ was scheduled to be in Spanish.
That was enough to trigger an immediate reaction.
Carles Puigdemont denounced an alleged slight against Catalonia, Junts mobilized its leaders and sent letters to various institutions, ERC called for greater use of Catalan, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Josep Rull, contacted representatives of the Catalan Church to express his concern. The Generalitat also conveyed to the Vatican the importance it placed on the language issue.
When language overshadows Gaudí and Christ
What is striking about the episode is how quickly the controversy shifted the focus of the event.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit is one of the most significant religious events held in Catalonia in recent decades. The Successor of Peter will travel to Barcelona to bless the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família, the culmination of Antoni Gaudí’s work in the year marking the centenary of his death.
However, for hours the debate ceased to revolve around the religious significance of the visit, Gaudí’s legacy, or the Christian symbolism of the tower, and instead centered almost exclusively on the language the Pope would use.
Political pressure paid off
While organizers maintained that the final decision rested solely with the Holy See, pressure mounted throughout the day.
The Bishop of Girona, Octavi Vilà, publicly expressed his wish for Catalan to have a more prominent role. The Generalitat conveyed to the Vatican the importance of the Catalan language as a factor of social cohesion. At the same time, separatist leaders intensified their public criticism and demands.
Ultimately, Rome chose to revise its initial plan and allow Leo XIV to use both languages during the blessing.