Pope Leo XIV has sent a letter to Cardinal Juan José Omella in which he expresses his gratitude for the welcome received during his recent apostolic visit to Barcelona and invites the faithful of the archdiocese to “lift up their gaze to adore, love and serve Jesus Christ”.
The missive, dated at the Vatican on 15 June 2026, was made public by the Archbishop of Barcelona during the thanksgiving Mass celebrated this Saturday, 11 July, in the Basilica of the Sagrada Família with the volunteers who took part in organising the papal trip on the past 9 and 10 June.
Gratitude for the welcome in Barcelona
In the letter, Leo XIV recalls “with grateful memory” the days spent in Barcelona and thanks Cardinal Omella for “the work and all the effort made to make my visit possible”.
The Pontiff also asks that his greeting and gratitude be extended to the emeritus cardinal archbishop, Lluís Martínez Sistach; to the auxiliary bishops; to the local organising committee and to all the faithful of the archdiocese, “whom I remember with paternal affection”.
“Lift up your gaze to adore, love and serve Jesus Christ”
The central passage of the letter contains a spiritual exhortation addressed to the whole Church of Barcelona.
“I pray to God, through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, that you may lift up your gaze to adore, love and serve Jesus Christ, and that He may guide you along paths of peace towards the heavenly homeland,” writes the Holy Father.
The letter concludes with the invocation of the protection of Our Lady of Mercy over the archdiocese and with the granting of the apostolic blessing.
Thanksgiving Mass with the volunteers
The thanksgiving celebration took place in the Basilica of the Sagrada Família and brought together more than a thousand people, including nearly 500 volunteers who took part in the preparation of the papal visit.
The Eucharist was presided over by the Archbishop of Barcelona and concelebrated by the auxiliary bishop, Mons. David Abadías, together with the rector of the Sagrada Família, Fr. Josep Turull; Fr. Enric Puig, coordinator of the Pope’s visit, and other priests.
The choir Petits Cantors de Valencia also performed; they were in Barcelona on their way to Girona to take part in the eleventh edition of the Europa Cantat Junior congress.
The visit of Leo XIV to Barcelona, held on 9 and 10 June, had as its central event the solemn Mass marking the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, during which the Pontiff blessed the tower of Jesus Christ of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família.