Pope in Barcelona: May Christians be builders of unity in a divided world

June 10, 2026: The second stage of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain commenced with midday prayer at Barcelona’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.

Upon arriving directly from the airport, the Pope was welcomed by an enthusiastic gathering that included bishops, canons, diocesan representatives, religious, seminarians, cathedral personnel, volunteers, and a large number of young people.

Pope Leo first entered a side chapel for a period of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and then proceeded through the central nave while the choir sang the opening hymn.

During his homily, delivered in both Spanish and Catalan, the Pope encouraged the faithful to reflect on two images: the Bride and the Body.

The bride

Pope Leo XIV explained that the Church is, above all, a “Beloved Bride”, and said that Barcelona’s Catholic community, with its wide range of gifts, charisms, and personal experiences, reflects this reality.

“God has willed you to be here,” the Pope said, “because in you and in your being together he loves a unique and sacred beauty and goodness. He has chosen you to represent today the communion of saints that is in Barcelona.”

The Pope stressed that the Church is “the fruit of an act of love that precedes and comes from God.” As a result, he said, the Church flourishes chiefly by allowing herself to be loved by Him with humility and gratitude, “for only those who let themselves be loved by God can build, together with others, the works of love."

The body

Pope Leo XIV then focused on the second image: the Body.

The Pope noted that all are one body with Christ and that, as in any body, “there are members who are stronger and others who are weaker”.

He further observed that while some members of the Church “are visible, performing functions that are evident to the outside world,” others remain hidden, “working from within — in some cases without ceasing and carrying out vital functions without anyone taking notice.”

Faced with this diversity, the Pope urged the faithful to place unity first, saying: “We are strong because we are united, and we are united because we are animated by the same Spirit”.

In a world marked by wars and divisions, and within a society becoming increasingly fragmented and individualistic, the Pope called on Christians to be ‘martyrs’—that is, he explained, “witnesses and prophets of unity, of welcome, of harmony and of peace, even at the cost of sacrifice and renunciation.”

Courtesy: Vatican News