WHEN Pope Benedict XVI visits Barcelona on November 7 the Vatican has requested that the popemobile’s route to the Sagrada Familia cathedral in the city centre does not take him through the capital’s widest boulevards.The Pope should appear in a sea of crowds, explained Vatican planners who also wanted people to feel closer to him in the narrower streets, meaning that proposals to route the procession along the Gran Via had to be scrapped.
With preparations now in the final stages, the council has refused a request to drain the pool in the Plaza Gaudi in order to erect a stage, arguing that this would require reinforcing the entire zone in order to support it.
The municipal authorities are in any case more worried about Benedict XVI’s safety and the regional police are at present cross-referencing addresses on census rolls with addresses on police records in sectors that the papal will drive through.
As a further precautionary measure, police inspecting the Pope’s planned route noted down all “For Sale” and “To Let” notices. If any of these properties are sold or rented during coming weeks they will be checked to see if new owners or tenants have a police record.
The authorities are close-lipped about the cost of the Benedict XVI’s visit although the central government, the regional government, the diputacion (similar to a county council) and Barcelona council are each committed to contributing €150,000 to cover overtime for police and hundreds of city employees.
Municipal sources have already criticised the Vatican’s reluctance to meet the cost of 100 giant television screens that the diocesan authorities want outside the Sagrada Familia.
They should be paid for from the €18 million earned each year by charging to the enter Sagrada Familia, the Ayuntamiento said.
SIC: EWN/EU