An image of the Virgin of Montserrat accompanied Pope Leo XIV during the flight that took him this Tuesday from Madrid to Barcelona to begin the second stage of his apostolic journey to Spain. The presence of the patroness of Catalonia alongside the Holy Father was one of the most symbolic details of a journey marked by anticipation ahead of his arrival in the Catalan capital.
The image of the Moreneta remained positioned in front of the Pontiff’s seat aboard the Iberia Airbus A320 that transported the Vatican delegation from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
Heading to the second stage of the apostolic journey
During the flight, members of the Vatican delegation shared breakfast before arriving in Barcelona. Shortly after midday, the plane landed at El Prat Airport, where Leo XIV was received by Catalan authorities.
After a brief official reception, the Holy Father proceeded directly to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia to preside over his first public event in Barcelona-