Airspace Security Enhanced
Madrid Police Will Secure Airspace and Neutralize Drones for Pope's Visit
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Spain has launched its largest security operation in modern history to protect Pope León XIV during his six-day apostolic visit from June 6 to 12, 2026. At the center of the effort is a plan to completely seal Madrid's skies — an operation dubbed "Gracia" — where police will neutralize any unauthorized drone that enters restricted airspace over the capital. La Nueva España reports the operation involves a triple-layer shield covering underground, ground-level, and aerial zones across Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
The visit is the first papal trip to Spain in 15 years. Some 23,000 security agents will be deployed nationwide, making it a mobilization with no modern precedent in Spanish history, according to Diario de Avisos.
Police Deploy Drones, Rifles, and Cameras to Lock Down Madrid Skies
The National Police Air Unit will run the aerial security shield. Inspector Jefe Ángel Siles, who leads the drone neutralization strategy, was direct about the stakes. "Drones are the primary risk vector," he said. "Any unauthorized flight will be neutralized if necessary," 20Minutos reported. The unit will deploy 16 specialized police drones, 43 frequency-inhibitor rifles, and 40 threat-detection cameras across central Madrid.
The key tool is the SIGLO-CD system — a counter-drone technology that can detect, track, and take control of hostile drones. A no-fly zone has been created by royal decree over central Madrid, Barcelona, and key areas of the Canary Islands, according to El Periódico de Aragón. One airplane and seven helicopters will also be in the air at all times during the visit.
14,000 Agents on the Ground as Madrid Faces 96 Hours of Lockdown
Madrid alone will have 14,000 security agents in place: 9,700 National Police, 4,000 Municipal Police, and 625 Guardia Civil officers, EFE reported. Government Delegate Francisco Martín called the deployment a "historic challenge." The city faces what officials describe as "96 hours and 40 minutes" of major mobility restrictions. Workers in central Madrid are being urged to work from home between June 3 and June 9.
The operation is governed by Instruction 2/2026, a legal framework set by the Secretary of State for Security. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Spain has the "necessary muscle" to handle the operation, given the current geopolitical climate. Spain remains on a "Level 4 Reinforced" anti-terrorist alert, tied in part to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to La Voz de Galicia.
Pope's Six-Day Agenda: Parliament Speech, Migration Crisis, and Sagrada Familia
The Pope lands at Madrid-Barajas Airport on June 6, where King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will receive him. A Mass at Plaza de Cibeles follows on June 7. His most politically charged moment comes June 8, when he will address a joint session of the Spanish Parliament — the first pope to do so. The Objective noted that both PP and Vox fear the Pope may endorse the government's migration policies during that speech.
From June 10 to 11, the visit moves to Barcelona, where events center on the Sagrada Família. On June 11 and 12, the Pope travels to the Canary Islands to highlight the migration crisis in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. He departs from Tenerife on Friday at 3:00 PM, according to Diario de Avisos.
€25 Million Cost, €150 Million Gain — and Growing Opposition
The total budget for the visit is €25 million. Private benefactors cover 45% of costs, the Church covers 30%, and public administrations pay 20%, according to Cadena SER. The expected economic return is €150 million in tourism and spending, RTVE reported. To handle the crowds, Renfe is adding 2 million extra train seats, and 80 public buildings will house the 20,000 volunteers supporting the event.
Not everyone is welcoming the visit. Secular groups Europa Laica and Ateus de Catalunya launched the "Yo No Te Espero" (I don't expect you) campaign, arguing the €25 million cost and use of public buildings violate Spain's separation of church and state, according to El País. Separately, Madrid firefighters warned that the security operation is draining resources, and they may not be able to respond to major emergencies during the visit, Cadena SER reported.
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