Pope Leo XIV to Inaugurate Sagrada Familia's 172.5-Metre Tower, Making It the World's Tallest Church
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Pope Leo XIV to Inaugurate Sagrada Familia's 172.5-Metre Tower, Making It the World's Tallest Church
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Summary
Wednesday's ceremony in Barcelona will see Pope Leo XIV inaugurate the Sagrada Familia's 172.5-metre Tower of Jesus Christ, a milestone that makes Gaudí's basilica the world's tallest church.
The visit coincides with the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí's death and comes a year after the Vatican approved a key step in the architect's sainthood process.
4.9 million people visited the basilica in 2025, a record that is helping fund construction of the long-delayed project, which began in 1882 and is now due for completion around 2035.
Gaudí, once mocked locally and mistaken for a vagabond after a fatal tram accident in 1926, is now a global draw whose major Barcelona buildings generate about 240 million euros a year.
Gaudí died with his church a quarter built. A century later, is the final basilica truly his vision?
The Pope warns of a tech 'Tower of Babel.' How does Gaudí's new tower offer a different path for human ambition?
To finish Gaudí’s vision, 200 neighbors face displacement. Can this monumental project justify its modern human cost?
Sagrada Família Nears Completion: 2026 Tower of Jesus Christ Inauguration, Community Tensions, and Global Impact
Overview
On June 10, 2026, Barcelona will celebrate the inauguration of the central Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família, marking a major milestone in the completion of Antoni Gaudí's iconic basilica. This event, fully funded by a €3.2 million patronage plan, will feature a blessing ceremony and highlight the basilica's new status as a global architectural pinnacle. The inauguration brings the Sagrada Família closer to its final form, reflecting years of dedication and support from various organizations, and promises to reinforce Barcelona's reputation as a center of innovation and cultural heritage.