Barcelona marked a major milestone at the Sagrada Família yesterday, when Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the basilica’s Jesus Tower and blessed the structure in a ceremony that made it the world’s tallest Catholic church, according to Segre.
The 172.5-metre tower is now the tallest building in the Catalan capital. The event also coincided with the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death, bringing together a religious ceremony and a commemoration of the basilica’s long construction history.
During the blessing, Pope Leo XIV scattered holy water with a sprinkler and referred to Gaudí as the “architect of God”. He later prayed and sprinkled holy water on the tower from the Nativity façade, while also blessing authorities and worshippers present at the mass.
The ceremony ended with a light and music show that included a Gregorian chant and the Escolania de Montserrat choir. Guests inside and outside the basilica held lanterns in time with the music, while light displays lit up the building and thousands of drones formed Gaudí’s face in the sky, alongside his quote, “First love, then technique.”
Fireworks launched from the basilica’s towers closed the display, and drones later spelled out “gràcies” in the sky. Pope Leo XIV also unveiled a commemorative plaque for his visit, joining plaques for John Paul II’s visit in 1982 and Benedict XVI’s in 2010.
The event drew a large group of authorities and politicians, including King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his wife Begoña Gómez, Catalan President Salvador Illa and his spouse Marta Estruch, plus former Catalan presidents Pujol, Montilla and Torra. For more Catalonia coverage, see our news tag.