Catalan News reported today that Pope Leo wishes to visit Spain this year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Malaga is on his itinerary. Instead he is expected to visit the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona, as well as Madrid and the Canary Isles.
The travel plan has been developed by Spanish Catholic authorities, who are now awaiting approval by the Vatican. José Cobo, vice president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and archbishop of Madrid told the media that setting up a papal visit is a lengthy process and requires a “huge” administrative and logistic operation. But he confirmed that it is the Pope himself who wants to visit the Sagrada Família.
Apparently the last time a Pope visited Barcelona was Pope Benedict in 2010, for the consecration of the Sagrada Família as a minor basilica.
Read the article here in Catalan News.