Barcelona court opens inquiry into removal of 600 singers at papal Mass

Investigating Court No. 29 in Barcelona has agreed to hear a criminal complaint filed by the association Acció Cassandra over the removal of about 600 singers during the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Familia on June 10. The removal took place during the visit of Pope Leo XIV, who presided at Mass at the event.

According to those who brought the complaint, security officers removed the singers and kept them outside until the ceremony ended. They were removed after trying to disrupt the planned program by singing "Els Segadors", the Catalan anthem, and displaying pro-independence flags. The complaint argues that this could amount to unlawful detention by a public official, among other offenses.

Investigation and chain of command

Acció Cassandra said the judge has ordered preliminary proceedings and has asked to identify the officer in charge of the police operation that carried out the removal. The association said the judge also asked for the chain of command that gave the order to corral the singers. Lluís Gibert, the association's president and a lawyer, said the admission of the complaint was important. He said the events described "are not a political exaggeration, nor a simple organizational dispute, but events serious enough to merit a criminal investigation with full safeguards".

The court will now determine whether the police action was lawful or an abuse of authority.