Pope Leo XIV will visit Spain from 6 to 12 June on his first major journey to Europe as Pope. One of the highlights of the visit will be his stop at the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona, where he will bless the new Jesus Tower (Torre de Jesucristo) to mark its completion.
The Sagrada Família is the best-known work of the architect Antoni Gaudí and one of the most famous church buildings in the world. Pope Benedict XVI dedicated the basilica in 2010, but construction has continued ever since. The newly completed Jesus Tower rises to a height of 172.5 metres and is the tallest church structure in the world.
The year 2026 also marks the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. Inspired by his Catholic faith, Gaudí devoted the final decades of his life almost entirely to the construction of the basilica.
The blessing, which will take place during the Pope’s visit, is expected to attract large numbers of pilgrims and visitors from around the world. It also marks one of the most important milestones in a construction project that has continued for more than 140 years. Although the Sagrada Família is not yet entirely complete, the completion of the Jesus Tower represents the conclusion of the most important phase of the building project.
Fides / Vatican News
The image was colourised with the help of artificial intelligence.