Coalition of secularist, union, and pro-independence groups launches campaign opposing Pope Leo XIV’s Barcelona visit and public funding.
Newsroom (27/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) A wide-ranging coalition of secular organizations, unions, pro-independence movements, and atheist associations has united in opposition to the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Barcelona, launching a campaign under the slogan “I’m not waiting for you.” While presented as a spontaneous civic initiative, the campaign reflects a convergence of longstanding ideological positions and organizational networks that rarely align so clearly on a single issue.The movement, which has developed its own website and public messaging, centers on a planned rally scheduled for June 9 at 7 p.m. on Passeig del Born. The timing is deliberate: the demonstration is set to begin just one hour after the Pope inaugurates his official program in Barcelona at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, ensuring maximum visibility and symbolic contrast.
A manifesto of broad grievances
According to its promoters—Atheists of Catalonia, Europa Laica, and the Ferrer i Guàrdia Foundation—the campaign is rooted in opposition to what they describe as the institutional treatment of a religious visit as though it were a state event. Their manifesto expresses concern over the allocation of public resources to support papal activities, arguing that such practices undermine institutional neutrality and contradict constitutional principles of secularism. The document goes further, presenting a sweeping critique of the Catholic Church’s role in Spanish society. It denounces the long-standing agreements between the Spanish State and the Holy See, which date back to the post-Franco Transition period. It also accuses the Church of opposing civil rights such as abortion and euthanasia, failing to fully acknowledge its historical role during Franco’s coup, and inadequately addressing clerical abuse scandals. Additionally, it criticizes what it describes as the marginalization of women within Church structures.The demands outlined by the coalition are equally extensive: the elimination of public funding for papal events, the absence of institutional representation at religious ceremonies, the repeal of agreements with the Vatican, a review of tax exemptions and property registrations linked to the Church, and changes to public media coverage to ensure neutrality. In essence, organizers argue that while the Pope is free to visit, the state should neither facilitate nor amplify the occasion.
Leadership and organizational networks
The involvement of the Ferrer i Guàrdia Foundation adds a notable dimension to the initiative. The organization is led by Joan Francesc Pont Clemente, a professor of Financial and Tax Law at the University of Barcelona and a prominent figure within Spanish Freemasonry. Pont holds the 33rd degree—the highest rank—and has previously served as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Symbolic Lodge of Spain as well as Grand Commander of the Supreme Masonic Council of Spain from 2010 to 2017.His leadership lends both organizational structure and historical symbolism to the campaign, given the long-standing tensions between Freemasonry and the Catholic Church. Supporting him within the foundation are figures such as Vicenç Molina Ferer, vice-president and professor of Business Ethics, who is also associated with Masonic leadership, and Santiago Castellà, a Socialist Party figure and president of the Port of Tarragona with connections to the same Masonic council.These overlapping affiliations highlight the extent to which the campaign is embedded within established institutional and political networks, rather than emerging solely as a grassroots movement.
Political paradoxes and internal contradictions
The campaign also reveals striking political paradoxes within Catalonia. Among the foundation’s trustees is Lluís Pérez Lozano, co-director of the Fundació Josep Irla, the official foundation of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC). This connection is notable given that ERC’s leader, Oriol Junqueras, is widely known for his active Catholic faith and time spent in the Vatican.This juxtaposition underscores the complexity of Catalan political life: while elements within ERC’s institutional orbit support protests against the papal visit, the party’s leadership includes devout Catholics who maintain close ties to the Church. Such contradictions illustrate the broader tensions between ideological positioning and personal belief within the region’s political landscape.
A coordinated coalition
Beyond its leadership, the campaign has attracted support from a diverse array of organizations, including unions such as CGT and USTEC, political groups like Esquerra Unida i Alternativa and Comunistes de Catalunya, and pro-independence parties such as the CUP. International secularist networks and youth organizations have also joined the effort.Notably, some of these groups share physical headquarters with the Ferrer i Guàrdia Foundation, including Esplais Catalans and Acció Escolta de Catalunya. Both organizations focus on youth education and promote values aligned with secularism, environmentalism, feminism, and Catalan nationalism. Their shared location has raised questions about the degree of coordination behind what is presented as a decentralized citizen initiative.
National identity and cultural claims
For Catalan independence groups, opposition to the papal visit extends beyond secular concerns into the realm of national identity. These organizations argue that state authorities are using the Pope’s visit to “Spanishize” cultural and religious landmarks they consider uniquely Catalan.Sites such as the Sagrada Familia, Montserrat Abbey, and the Olympic Stadium—officially named after Lluís Companys—are cited as examples of heritage being appropriated through the symbolic weight of a papal visit. Critics of this position note the paradox that the Sagrada Familia itself is a Catholic basilica consecrated by a Pope, complicating claims of purely national ownership.
A moment of convergence
Despite their differing priorities and ideologies, the groups behind the “I’m not waiting for you” campaign have found common ground in their opposition to the Pope’s visit. Their alliance highlights ongoing debates in Spain over secularism, public funding, historical memory, and national identity.As Barcelona prepares to host Pope Leo XIV, the planned demonstration signals that the visit will not unfold without controversy—reflecting both the enduring influence of the Catholic Church and the persistent challenges posed by its critics in contemporary Spanish society.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatholica
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