Barcelona witnessed a historic moment on June 10 as Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família, the famed basilica designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who devoted more than four decades of his life to the project. Construction of the church began in 1882, and the ceremony marked the culmination of a 144-year effort.
The inauguration coincided with the centenary of Gaudí’s death and drew thousands of worshippers, pilgrims, and visitors to Barcelona. Local authorities said around 9,000 people attended inside the basilica while another 120,000 gathered outside. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez were among those present as Pope Leo led Mass and formally blessed the structure.
The Tower of Jesus Christ rises 172.5 meters, or 566 feet, above Barcelona, making the Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world. Crowned by a ceramic-covered cross, it completes the central element of Gaudí’s vision nearly a century after his death in 1926, following decades of delays caused by war, political upheaval, funding shortages, and the destruction of many of his plans during the Spanish Civil War.
During the Mass, Pope Leo said, “We are all the living stones of this edifice.” He also described the basilica as an “architectural masterpiece” and an “eloquent catechesis made of stones, colours and light,” recognizing the generations of architects, builders, artists, and craftsmen who carried the project forward.
The event also highlighted Gaudí’s growing standing within the Catholic Church. Known as “God’s architect” for his faith and dedication to the basilica, he was declared “venerable” by Pope Francis, placing him on the path toward possible sainthood. “There is a miracle that is currently being studied, and we hope he will be beatified this year,” José Manuel Almuzara, president of the Association for the Beatification of Antoni Gaudí, told NBC News.
The blessing united two milestones. It marked 100 years since Gaudí’s death and celebrated the completion of the central tower at the heart of his vision for the Sagrada Família, a project generations spent more than a century bringing to life.
