50 Andorrans Join 40,000 at Pope Leo XIV's Youth Vigil in Barcelona

Around 50 Andorrans joined nearly 40,000 attendees at a papal vigil led by Pope Leo XIV in Barcelona's Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The event drew participants from the Diocese of Urgell, which secured all 300 available spots provided by the Archdiocese of Barcelona. These were allocated across parishes and pastoral groups within the diocese, including a group of about 50 from Andorra. They travelled by bus, departing Andorra shortly after lunch on Tuesday alongside others from the diocese.

Doors opened in the early afternoon, with pre-event activities starting around 6pm. The programme featured interviews, video screenings and performances by artists including Álvaro Soler, Beret, Siloé, Conchita, Alfred Garcia and Sabor de Gràcia. Around 50 confessionals were set up for attendees wishing to speak with priests.

Pope Leo XIV arrived shortly before 7:30pm, greeted by a casteller human tower performance and cheers from the crowd. The vigil included various addresses, a Gospel reading, the Pope's homily and moments of prayer. It focused on youth, with testimonies from three young people and responses from the pontiff emphasising walking together, care amid suffering, forgiveness, rejection of hatred and violence, and promoting peace.

The event closed with the Escolania de Montserrat choir performing the Virolai, followed by Sergio Dalma's song *Em dones força*, originally from a TV3 Marató charity album.

Anna Villas, president of Càritas Andorrana and an attendee, described the day as one of intense emotion. The group travelled together filled with anticipation, enjoyed the music and united in prayer. She highlighted the young people's testimonies and the Pope's call to accompany others, calling it a memorable experience that strengthened faith, hope and commitment to others.

Bishop of Urgell and Episcopal Co-Prince Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat, along with his predecessor Enric Vives, watched from the stage.

Mossèn Pepe Chisvert, rector of Sant Julià de Lòria, described the Pope's Barcelona visit as part of a programmatic trip to Spain, positioning him as a moral reference with a solid humanist project amid civilisational challenges. Mercedes Campos, an Andorran art restorer attending from the Sant Julià parish, called it an act of celebration of the word and a way of building church community.