Full story
Tower Blessing in Barcelona
Pope Leo XIV blessed and inaugurated the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona on June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church in the world.
“Art World Pope Leo to Bless Barcelona's Sagrada Familia The blessing arrives on the centennial of the monument's architect, Antoni Gaudí”
The tower, designed by Antoni Gaudí, stands at more than 564 feet and is now the tallest structure in Barcelona, with the pope offering Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurating the tower.
The papal Mass fell on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death, and the pope descended to the basilica’s crypt to pray at the tomb of Antoni Gaudí before the blessing.
In his homily, Pope Leo urged people to lift their gaze to Christ, saying, “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves,” and he also described the tower as “a visible sign of the invisible God, for whose glory its towers rise.”
Crowds, Royals, and Homily
The June 10 Mass and blessing drew an estimated 9,000 people inside the basilica and an estimated 120,000 people worshipped from outside, while Spanish King Felipe VI welcomed the pope upon his arrival at the basilica.
In attendance at the Mass were Josep Rull, President of the Parliament of Catalonia; Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia; Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain; and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
Pope Leo told worshippers, “Much more than a monument, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress today,” and he added that the fact it is incomplete “is not a flaw,” but “it bears witness to a desire” and promise “that we wish to honor with consistency.”
During the homily, Pope Leo also delivered a forceful appeal against war, saying, “We cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent.”
A 144-Year Completion
The Tower of Jesus Christ blessing marked a step in what multiple outlets described as a long path toward completion for the Sagrada Familia, with CNN saying the blessing signified a major step in a 144-year journey toward completion.
“By Courtney Mares BARCELONA, Spain – Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia on June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic structure the tallest Catholic church in the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ, “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves”
Work remains ongoing on the baptistery, the sacristy, the Chapel of the Assumption, the cloisters and the Glory Facade, and it is projected that the basilica will not be completed until 2036.
The Washington Post described the tower as the highest spire of what is now the world’s tallest church, and it said Pope Leo XIV blessed the Tower of Jesus Christ, “the highest spire of what is now the world’s tallest church: Barcelona’s Sagrada Família.”
In the same ceremony, Pope Leo framed the unfinished basilica as a spiritual metaphor, saying, “The fact that it is incomplete is not a flaw, for it bears witness to a desire; it does not signify a shortcoming, but rather expresses a promise that we wish to honor with consistency,” while the Guardian reported that the basilica has reached its full height of 172.5 metres with the completion of the Jesus Christ tower.
