pope leo xiv tenerife rehearsal june visit

Pope Leo XIV: Tenerife rehearses for June visit

Full-scale rehearsal for papal visit

La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife held a unique dress rehearsal yesterday afternoon for what will be Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the island on Friday, 12 June. Following the advance party of the Vatican commission that visited the North American pontiff’s travel locations on 5 March, representatives from the Vatican, the Royal Household and government ministries tested the ‘altars’ that the Bishop of Rome will tour on Wednesday afternoon, 29 April, after having inspected the route in Gran Canaria in the morning.

Security and logistics in La Laguna

From early afternoon, a sign placed just past the Las Quinteras car park, at the entrance to the Plaza del Adelantado, blocked buses and lorries from accessing the Plaza del Cristo. A sizeable deployment of local police officers made it clear this was no ordinary afternoon in Aguere. At half past three, the Vatican delegation arrived at Tenerife North Airport, where they were received by the Bishop of Tenerife, Eloy Santiago, and the diocesan coordinator for the pontiff’s visit and vicar general, Antonio Pérez Morales. Leading the Holy See’s ambassadors was Monsignor José Nahúm Jairo Salas, appointed by Pope Leo XIV as coordinator of his apostolic journeys, accompanied by members of the gendarmerie and the North American pontiff’s Swiss Guard.

From the airport, the delegation travelled to the Las Raíces migrant centre, where they were met by the Spanish government’s delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, as well as the deputy delegate in the province of Tenerife, Javier Plata, among other representatives of the central administration.

Panels and plans for the Plaza del Cristo

Around half past four, the coordinator of volunteers and head of logistics, Pedro López, arrived at the Plaza del Cristo and oversaw the installation of two information panels. One panel showed the stage set-up and seating capacity planned for the square, where Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet 1,500 migrants and representatives of the third sector. The other panel displayed a map of the route the pope may take, which is expected to be made official next week, along with the full itinerary for his visit to Spain, beginning in Madrid on 6 June.

Among the first to arrive at the Plaza del Cristo was Alejandro Beautell, the architect behind the stages for the two ceremonies Leo XIV will conduct in Tenerife: one in the Plaza del Cristo and the other, with a larger gathering of faithful and pilgrims, at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Vatican delegation inspects the square

Just before six in the evening, the Vatican delegation reached the Plaza del Cristo, where the head of security planning for the visit on the island, Manuel Asensio, acted as host. He briefed the nearly thirty members of the delegation on the preparations specific to La Laguna, to the extent that the bishop even took a moment to speak privately with a homeless person while the route was being explained. Architect Alejandro Beautell also spoke, detailing the stage that will host the pope and expanding on capacity arrangements to allow local residents to attend while ensuring safety within the designated area.

The platform will be positioned with the mountains of San Roque behind it and the Sanctuary of Christ of La Laguna to the left. Leo XIV will not visit the sanctuary itself, as security measures advise against it, and the dark-skinned Crucified Christ image will at that time be presiding over the main altar set up at the port of the Tenerife capital.

Route through the streets of La Laguna

While some headed to the port of Santa Cruz, where the ‘simulation’ of the pope’s visit to Tenerife concluded, the Vatican delegation, along with the central government delegate, the deputy delegate and the Bishop of Tenerife, among others, made their way from the Plaza del Cristo along Calle Viana. This is the same street Leo XIV is expected to travel, using a small vehicle. Calle Viana, in particular as far as San Agustín — where the episcopal palace is located — will host one of the most moving moments of Leo XIV’s visit. It is planned, pending the publication of the official agenda, that this space will be reserved for the elderly and the sick, alongside other members of the public who gather. Notably, this street is home to a care home for the elderly, and nearby, on Calle del Agua (officially Nava y Grimón), is the Virgen Poderosa day centre for older people.

Just as the pope will do, the delegation proceeded to the Bishop’s Palace. Here, Leo XIV is expected to make a stop, with a brief greeting ceremony for local authorities, before heading to the port of Santa Cruz — exactly as the delegation did.

Move to Santa Cruz port and royal involvement

From La Laguna, without affecting the motorway yesterday but with a substantial security deployment, the Vatican convoy moved to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There, the delegation doubled in size with the addition of two representatives from the Royal Household — who requested the plans to study the placement of dignitaries — and the contingent from the ministries overseeing the security operation. Alongside the King and Queen of Spain, the Princess and the Infanta are also expected to attend the final Mass of Leo XIV’s visit to the country, held in Tenerife, as well as the Prime Minister and a large part of Spain’s cabinet ministers.

Also taking part were the heads of protocol for the Government of the Canary Islands, José Rivero, and for La Laguna City Council, Jonathan Santos, both fully involved in preparing the visit promoted by the Diocese.

Port venue details and timing

At the port complex of the Tenerife capital, architect Alejandro Beautell, appointed by the Diocese of Tenerife, joined for a second time to present the details of the celebratory space where the pope will preside over the final Eucharist of his visit to Spain. The event will feature more than three hundred co-celebrants. Waiting for the Vatican delegation at the port complex were the president of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Pedro Suárez, and the mayor of the capital, José Manuel Bermúdez.

Unlike the advance party in March, which used two official vehicles and a bus, this time the delegation travelled in black cars, escorted by local police from La Laguna and Santa Cruz, and by the Civil Guard on the motorway. In addition to reviewing the layout of the celebratory space within the port complex, members of the delegation showed keen interest in how long the pope will take to travel from Aguere to the port. The schedule is extremely tight: it begins at Las Raíces, proceeds to the Plaza del Cristo, continues with a drive in a small vehicle along Calle Viana to the Bishop’s Palace, and then descends with a security convoy to Avenida La Salle, before travelling in the popemobile to the port. All of this must be completed within seven hours.

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