{"id":79160,"date":"2026-06-09T20:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T00:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-human-tower-builders-welcome-pope-leo-xiv-in-barcelona-performance\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T20:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T00:37:15","slug":"spanish-human-tower-builders-welcome-pope-leo-xiv-in-barcelona-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-human-tower-builders-welcome-pope-leo-xiv-in-barcelona-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Human Tower Builders Welcome Pope Leo XIV in Barcelona Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDES, Spain (AP) \u2014 Eight-year-old Bruna Vall Gal\u00e1n delivered an extraordinary greeting to Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday evening in Catalonia \u2014 perched atop a towering human formation stretching nearly 10 meters (33 feet) high during the pontiff’s prayer vigil in Barcelona.<\/p>

These human formations, known as “castells” in Catalan, represent far more than displays of balance, power and cooperation \u2014 they embody the deeply-rooted cultural identity of this Spanish region in the northeast.<\/p>

The Castellers de Vilafranca, among the most renowned groups maintaining this heritage, were selected to showcase their skills for the pope during his week-long Spanish visit. The Associated Press followed their experience from the lengthy bus journey through pre-performance nerves to the triumphant celebrations following Leo’s enthusiastic response.<\/p>

“A fundamental richness of castells is that anybody can take part, independently of their age, their culture, their weight or height, their beliefs or ideologies,” said Ernest Gallart P\u00e9rez, the group’s president. “Every person has their place on the structure.”<\/p>

Bruna’s mother, Maria Vall Camell, became a member at age 18 and eventually found her spouse within the organization, where participants wear distinctive jade green shirts, white pants, tight black sashes and red bandannas with white dots. These bandannas and sashes serve as essential grip points for members scaling up and down one another as the formation grows.<\/p>

“The human towers are like the skyline of Catalonia,” Vall told the AP on the bus as more than 130 castellers traveled from their small town, Vilafranca del Penedes, deep in Cava wine country about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Barcelona. “They are an identity, very important for our culture, and they represent very well our society, that we work together as a team.”<\/p>

These formations serve as centerpieces of Catalan festivities, from patron saint celebrations to competitions involving hundreds of performers. Yet fundamentally, they constitute family customs handed down across generations.<\/p>

“It’s union, family, strength,” said Aida Iba\u00f1ez Sadurn\u00ed, who participated in Tuesday’s tower with her father, Xavier Iba\u00f1ez Sanz. “When we get everybody down, we hug each other crying, and it’s the biggest emotion.”<\/p>

Months of preparation precede these brief construction moments, beginning with a substantial foundation of people packed shoulder to shoulder in compact circles, heads pressed against neighboring shoulders, arms locked together.<\/p>

During Tuesday’s performance, smaller four-person teams ascended to form an initial standing circle, followed by additional climbers until Bruna \u2014 fulfilling her role as the “anxaneta,” the girl positioned at the peak \u2014 reached the summit and waved before descending.<\/p>

Following the castell’s successful completion, Leo beamed widely as roughly 40,000 stadium attendees responded with stadium-level cheering.<\/p>

“It’s a relief, I’m very happy, very joyful,” said \u00c0ngel Grau, the “cap de colla” or coach of the group, as the sweaty, cheerful group made their way back out to their buses and long ride home.<\/p>

“There were a lot of people watching us from around the world, and whether you believe a lot or believe less, it’s such an occasion for pride for us.”<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eight-year-old Bruna Vall Gal\u00e1n crowned a 33-foot human tower during Pope Leo XIV’s prayer vigil in Barcelona Tuesday night. The traditional Catalan “castells” performance by the Castellers de Vilafranca group drew thunderous applause from 40,000 spectators.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":79159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[835],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-religious"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781051835307.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-kAM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":78393,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-reparations-to-spanish-clergy-abuse-survivors\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":0},"title":"Pope Leo XIV Calls for Reparations to Spanish Clergy Abuse Survivors","author":"Admin","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"During his weeklong visit to Spain, Pope Leo XIV urged the country's Catholic leadership to compensate survivors of clergy sexual abuse and handle the crisis with transparency. The pontiff emphasized the church's commitment to prevention and care while defending the confidentiality of confession amid global pressure for reform.","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780929555718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780929555718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780929555718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780929555718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79071,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-addresses-mental-health-domestic-violence-at-spanish-youth-rally\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":1},"title":"Pope Leo XIV Addresses Mental Health, Domestic Violence at Spanish Youth Rally","author":"Admin","date":"June 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Pope Leo XIV held a candid discussion about depression and domestic violence during a youth rally in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday. The event drew 40,000 attendees and featured young people sharing personal struggles including suicide attempts and family abuse. The pope called for better mental health services and support for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781038336852.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781038336852.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781038336852.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781038336852.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":77606,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-says-hes-competing-with-bad-bunny-for-attention-in-spain\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":2},"title":"Pope Leo XIV Says He’s Competing with Bad Bunny for Attention in Spain","author":"Admin","date":"June 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Pope Leo XIV admitted during his flight to Spain that he faces stiff competition from reggaeton star Bad Bunny, who is performing concerts in Madrid this weekend. The American pontiff joked that many young people would likely choose to see the Puerto Rican musician over attending papal events during his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780738701861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780738701861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780738701861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780738701861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":78273,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-addresses-spanish-parliament-urges-migrant-rights-protection\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":3},"title":"Pope Leo XIV Addresses Spanish Parliament, Urges Migrant Rights Protection","author":"Admin","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In a historic first, Pope Leo XIV spoke before Spain's parliament Monday, calling for renewed respect for migrant rights and international law. The American pontiff's address marked unprecedented acceptance of Catholic Church leadership in Spain's secular political sphere.","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780915031132.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780915031132.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780915031132.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780915031132.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62614,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-to-bless-barcelona-cathedral-tower-visit-migrants-in-spain\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":4},"title":"Pope Leo XIV to Bless Barcelona Cathedral Tower, Visit Migrants in Spain","author":"Admin","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Pope Leo XIV will travel to Spain June 6-12 to dedicate the towering central spire of Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia cathedral and meet with migrants in the Canary Islands. The pontiff will also hold meetings with Spanish royalty and government officials during his weeklong visit.","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778071241649.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778071241649.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778071241649.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778071241649.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71560,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/pope-leo-xiv-issues-major-document-on-ais-impact-on-humanity\/","url_meta":{"origin":79160,"position":5},"title":"Pope Leo XIV Issues Major Document on AI’s Impact on Humanity","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Pope Leo XIV has released an 83-page manifesto called \"Magnifica Humanitas\" addressing artificial intelligence's effects on society. The document covers topics from disinformation and democracy to workplace automation and digital warfare.","rel":"","context":"In "Religious"","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779705480155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779705480155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779705480155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779705480155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79160\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}