The security plan designed for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain, which includes stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, is shaping up to be the most ambitious and complex to date for the State Security Forces and Corps. The General Commissioner of Citizen Security, Francisco López Gordo, has been responsible for coordinating this operation, calling it a significant challenge.

Specifically for the island of Gran Canaria, the operation will involve 1,650 officers, combining 1,100 from the mainland and 565 from the National Police on the island, plus approximately 200 vehicles. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 810 mainland officers and around 500 from the Provincial Police Station will be deployed, making a total of approximately 3,000 officers linked to the operation on both islands.

López Gordo emphasized that the operation involves not only human resources but also vehicles and advanced technology, with support from the Superior Headquarters in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The National Police is assuming overall coordination in contact with other security forces, having already successfully managed security in Madrid and Barcelona.

The security of the Pontiff, his entourage, and the motorcades will be comprehensively covered by the Central Protection Unit, in collaboration with the Vatican's security service. Simultaneously, the protection of venues, public spaces, and public order will be ensured, given the anticipated mass mobilization of people, which elevates the risk dimension beyond that of typical operations. The Police Intervention Unit (UIP) will lead public order efforts alongside support units.

The critical phase of the operation begins 24 hours before the Pope's arrival, with 100% of capabilities deployed. Months of meetings and visits have been used to finalize routes and venues, and in the days leading up to the visit, event locations are being secured with special measures to fine-tune the final details.

The operation encompasses virtually all functional areas of the National Police, including Intelligence Services, Judicial Police, Air Services, and logistics. The complexity in the islands lies in the transportation of all technical and human equipment, requiring a higher level of coordination and planning than operations on the mainland.

At the Gran Canaria Stadium, where the largest public attendance is expected, 15 operational intervention groups, drones, anti-drone systems, and special units will be deployed to ensure security during the access and evacuation of attendees.