Pope Leo XIV arrived in Barcelona, Spain, on June 10 to bless the new tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica.
In a widely hailed development, the central Tower of Jesus Christ was completed in February, bringing the Basilica’s height up to up 566 feet and earning the structure the designation of world’s tallest church. Now, the leader of the Catholic Church will hold mass inside the modernist landmark on the 100th anniversary of the death of its architect Antoni Gaudí.
The inauguration was live-streamed on TikTok, as well as the Sagrada Familia’s website, and will see more than 8,000 people gather before the pontiff, including Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
Pope Leo XIV greets faithful as he presides over the Midday Prayer at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in Barcelona. Photo: Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images.
Gaudí was a devout Catholic who died at the age of 73 after being hit by a tram while on his way to church. The Sagrada Familia is duly packed with depictions of religious figures and Biblical scenes and its central spire falls short of Barcelona’s Montjuic hill in respect for God. Such piety has long seen Gaudí labeled “God’s architect,” but in recent years the Vatican has hinted it may canonize him as a saint.
When Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the Sagrada Familia in 2010, he described Gaudí as “a practicing Christian who kept the torch of his faith alight to the end of his life.” In 2025, Pope Francis recognized Gaudí for his “heroic virtues,” the second in a four-step process towards being recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Steps three and four require verifiable miracles being attributed to the architect. The Archdiocese of Barcelona has been putting Gaudí’s case before the Vatican since 2023. Accordingly, Pope Leo’s words and actions will be closely watched.
Pope Leo XIV walks under a processional canopy following the Holy Mass held in the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid. Photo: Getty Images.
The Pope’s arrival in Barcelona follows a visit to Madrid, where he held an open-air mass to 1.5 million people and became the first pontiff to address Spain’s parliament. Later in the week, the U.S. born leader is set to visit the Canary Islands, where he will shine a spotlight on immigration.
Work on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and despite the excitement surrounding the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ earlier this year, Gaudí’s masterpiece is still not completed. Work continues on its four bell towers and a proposed grand entrance and square that would entail destroying two blocks of homes, a move that has provoked strong local pushback. Construction is expected to be completed in the coming decade.