Catalans will be able to confess at the Olympic Stadium during the Pope's visit

BarcelonaThe visit of Pope Leo XIV to Catalonia aims to be an invitation to "raise our gaze" to boost the relationship between Catholics and to offer an approach to the Church for non-believers. The most crowded venue of the visit will be the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys, in an event that will gather 40,000 people and in which there will be surprising events, according to what the organization said this Wednesday at a press conference. Beyond musical groups, some with "international" impact, which have not been revealed, the secretary of youth pastoral care of the Church in Barcelona, Father Carlos Bosch, explained that "about fifty confession points will be set up for those who wish."

That is to say, there could be a multitude of confessions of sins from the faithful, with dozens of priests mobilized, just before the prayer vigil with the pontiff and the planned live performances and testimonies. An opportunity for "preparation" for the blessing of the tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Família basilica, which will take place the following day. "We are at a significant moment, the whole world will be watching Catalonia," said Bosch.

The priest emphasized that the stadium gates will open at 4 p.m., and at 6 p.m. the welcome will begin, with performances, an orchestra, a choir, local, Catalan, Spanish, and international artists – of Catholic and general music –, interviews, and moments of silence, which will precede the Pope's entrance in the popemobile. "He will go around the track," he said. The entire event will be themed around the Sagrada Família: there will be "Gaudinian, Mediterranean scenography," and even a copy of the cross of the Sagrada Família, which will enter in procession, and a copy of the image of Our Lady of Montserrat, patron saint of Catalonia.

The mystery

The confusion has arisen due to the lack of specifics about the Olympic Stadium event, unlike other visits by Leo XIV to the Principality. "I would like to explain it, but they are not letting me," lamented Bosch. It is known that there will be "three questions for the Pope" from young people, that the Gospel will be read, and that the dynamic with the pontiff will be one of "listening and praying," in a vigil that is expected to end at half past nine at night.

Bosch said that some things just need to be explained "so that it can be experienced in the best possible way," but he did step in to rule out that Rosalía is one of the singers who will participate in the vigil. "It's impossible," he lamented, and he reviewed the tour that the singer from Sant Esteve Sesrovires has planned.

Of the 40,000 available seats for the Olympic Stadium, one third could be obtained in the usual way, another third through parishes, and another through other institutions and dioceses. One of the other questions that have arisen is the reason why more faithful could not be gathered in Barcelona, as will happen in Madrid, where more than half a million people are expected. Father Enric Puig commented that they are already accommodating an "important" group of people, such as 40,000 at the stadium and 8,000 at the Mass at the Sagrada Família, among whom there will be more than 250 bishops and 800 priests.