The Community of Madrid has activated its Territorial Civil Protection Plan (Platercam) in its alert phase ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Spanish capital, the regional government has said.
The measure came into force today and would stay in place throughout the Pope’s stay in Madrid, from June 6-9. Large crowds are expected at the events scheduled during the trip.
The Madrid 112 Security and Emergencies Agency (ASEM112) said it would maintain operational situation level 0 until June 9. That is the lowest of the four levels foreseen and carries no risk to the public.
The regional government said the preventive measure applied to municipal-scale situations that could be managed with local resources. ASEM112 would handle monitoring, assessment and coordination, and provide extra support where needed.
The regional executive said the plan would improve response capacity and the joint running of emergency services, “ensuring rapid and effective attention to the mass arrival of pilgrims and visitors to the region”.
Among the planned measures, ASEM112 has placed a representative of its civil protection sub-directorate at the coordination centre of Madrid City Council, where the operation would be overseen. The official would act as a permanent link between the regional and local administrations.
The Madrid 112 emergency centre would also reinforce its daily staffing to cope with a possible rise in calls to the 112 number, the regional government said.
The Madrid leg forms the first stage of a wider apostolic journey through Spain that would run until June 12, taking in Barcelona and the Canary Islands. It is the first papal trip to the country since Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2011.
In the capital, the main events would include a prayer vigil with young people at Plaza de Lima and an open-air Mass at Plaza de Cibeles. The Pope accepted an invitation from King Felipe VI and the Spanish Catholic Church.
Leo XIV is due to arrive at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport on the morning of June 6 and would stay at the Apostolic Nunciature during his time in the capital. He is also expected to become the first pope to address the Spanish Parliament, in a joint session of both chambers.
