Cardinal Juan José Omella calls for calm after Barcelona unrest

Cardinal Juan José Omella, the archbishop of Barcelona, urged citizens to avoid violence and confrontation following riots in the city on Saturday. Omella stated that such actions do not provide solutions but instead worsen existing problems.

The unrest followed a student protest organized through social media. According to Alfa y Omega, the disturbances resulted in 128 arrests, 56 percent of whom were minors, and left 14 agents injured, including four seriously. Omella described the scenes of looting and destruction as causing pain and raising questions about the underlying causes of the violence.

The cardinal called for the use of language that does not polarize society or present people as irreconcilable enemies. He noted that citizens have a right to live in peace through mutual respect and adherence to rules of coexistence. Omella suggested that society should focus on common challenges to address them with unity.