Barcelona choristers expelled from Sagrada Família spark protest

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Sagrada Família in Barcelona after Spanish police expelled about 600 choristers from a papal mass led by Pope Leo XIV during the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus. The singers were removed before completing the hymn "Els Segadors" and were escorted out by security.

A spontaneous rally organized through social media and supported by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana saw participants display a large Catalan independence flag, sing "Els Segadors" and chant other Catalan songs. Former Catalan president Quim Torra and Junts spokesperson Josep Rius attended, condemning the police action as a violation of freedom of expression and demanding answers from the authorities.

The protest blocked traffic on Carrer de Sardenya and highlighted tensions over cultural expression and state security measures in the region.