** Be smart · Be ready

Pope Leo XIV in Spain

Safety & Sanity Checklist

Madrid · Salamanca · Plaza Cibeles area | 6–12 June 2026

** The Pope is there, but the devil is also lurking. Pickpockets, heatstroke, and lost documents don't take a holy day off.

** Personal safety & security

Leave your passport at your hotel / apartment. Carry only a colour copy or a photo on your phone. Original documents are irreplaceable in a crowd.

Use a cross-body bag or money belt. Zip it shut and keep it in front of you. Barcelona and Madrid are expert pickpocket territories during mass events.

Share your live location with a friend or family member. WhatsApp live location works even with limited signal.

Know the emergency numbers: 112 (EU-wide). Download the "AlertCops" app for direct police communication in English.

Stay aware of exits and crowd density. If you feel crushed, move sideways toward the edge — not against the flow.

Learn the crowd crush triangle: Keep your arms up near your chest to protect your lungs. If you fall, curl into a fetal position and protect your head.

• Beat the heat (Spain in June is no joke)

Carry a reusable water bottle. Many venues allow empty bottles; there are refill stations near major plazas. Drink water even if you’re not thirsty.

Wear a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. Reapply every two hours.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, headache, excessive sweating. Find shade immediately.

Pack electrolyte tablets or a small salt snack. You lose more than water when sweating.

Bring a small portable fan or a cooling towel. Wet it at a fountain and wrap around your neck – instant relief.

• Documents & logistics

Print your event ticket / accreditation. Mobile networks can collapse with 100,000 people in one area. A paper backup is gold.

Take a photo of your ID, travel insurance, and hotel address. Store it in a locked note on your phone.

Carry a small power bank (10,000 mAh minimum). Your phone is your map, wallet, and lifeline.

Write down the embassy emergency number of your country. Leave a copy at your accommodation.

Keep a physical list of emergency contacts in your wallet. Phones die. Batteries fail. Paper doesn't.

• Watch out for scammers

Be suspicious of strangers asking for urgent “financial help”. Common tricks: “I lost my wallet, can you wire me money?”, fake charities, or “police” demanding immediate payment.

Never share personal information (passport number, bank details, PINs). No legitimate authority will ask for these in a crowd or over a cold call.

Avoid untraceable payment methods. If someone asks for Bitcoin, gift cards, or Western Union – it's almost certainly a scam.

Contact authorities if in doubt. Call 112 for immediate threats or the national police (091) / local police (092). You can also use the AlertCops app to report suspicious behaviour.

Remember: even at a religious event, fraudsters operate. The Pope’s presence attracts crowds – and crowds attract opportunists. Stay alert, not alarmed.

Zedista is here — in Madrid, Salamanca, and near Plaza Cibeles.

• Lost your passport or had your wallet stolen? Zedista can help coordinate emergency support (replacement guidance, local police translation, emergency accommodation).

• Need urgent document printing? Visa appointment tomorrow and your printer died? We print and deliver to your hotel or mailbox in Salamanca, Madrid, or near Plaza Cibeles (not yet in Barcelona or Canary Islands).

• Emergency hotline (WhatsApp): +34 674 429 424 | Email: hello@zedista.com

** Same-day printing, scanning, passport photos — delivered to your door in our coverage area. The devil may be lurking, but your paperwork doesn’t have to be lost.

** Getting around & crowd management

Arrive at least 90 minutes early. Security checks at papal events are thorough – expect metal detectors and bag checks.

Plan your exit before you enter. Designate a meeting point outside the venue in case you get separated.

Use public transport. Metro and bus lines will operate extra services, but roads around the events will be closed from early morning.

Download offline maps of Madrid and Salamanca. Google Maps offline or Maps.me can save you when data stalls.

Pre-load a multi-trip Metro card (e.g., Tarjeta Multi). Avoid queues at ticket machines when everyone is leaving at once.

• Phone & battery survival

Put your phone in battery-saver mode before you arrive. Reduce screen brightness, turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scanning.

Send your planned route and estimated return time to someone. If you go silent, they know where to start looking.

Use a wrist strap or phone leash. Pickpockets are less likely to grab a phone attached to your body.

• Final blessing & reality check: The Holy Father’s visit is a once-in-a-generation event. Enjoy it, take photos, but don’t become a victim of the small sins: distraction, dehydration, and overconfidence. **

** Print or save as PDF

** Based on official Vatican schedule and Spanish civil protection recommendations.

Zedista emergency printing coverage: Salamanca, Madrid, and within delivery range of Plaza Cibeles (not Barcelona or Canary Islands).

Zedista website: https://zedista.com | Email: hello@zedista.com

For life‑threatening emergencies always call 112.