Barcelona’s central streets were flooded with thousands of excited attendees this week, as Pope Leo XIV made a high-profile stop at the city’s world-famous Sagrada Família basilica during his seven-day official visit to Spain. The historic landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its one-of-a-kind Antoni Gaudí architecture, served as the centerpiece of the pontiff’s itinerary during the Catalan stop of the trip. Crowds lined the thoroughfares leading up to the basilica from early morning, waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV as his motorcade made its way to the iconic site. The week-long visit to Spain marks a key moment in papal engagement with the country’s Catholic community, with the Sagrada Família stop drawing one of the largest public gatherings of the entire trip. Local authorities had deployed enhanced security measures to accommodate the massive turnout, while organizers reported that the crowd remained peaceful and enthusiastic throughout the pontiff’s time at the basilica.