“‘God’s Architect,’ the renowned Spanish Catalan master Antonio Gaudí i Cornet (1852–1926), is being commemorated on the 100th anniversary of his passing with the inauguration of the central tower of his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família Basilica, on the 10th (local time).
Pope Leo XIV is simultaneously visiting Barcelona to conduct a memorial mass for Gaudí’s 100th anniversary and is expected to bless the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ,’ the final touch to the basilica’s exterior.
The Sagrada Família, a basilica dedicated to the Holy Family—Mary, Joseph, and Jesus—is a major attraction in Spain, drawing 4.9 million Catholic faithful and tourists from around the world annually. It is estimated that up to 20 million visitors per year view the basilica’s exterior for free.
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in March 1882, making it a 145-year work in progress and the tallest church in the world. In February, the top cross section of the central ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’ was installed, reaching a height of 172.5 meters, completing the structure and overall exterior.
According to Gaudí’s belief that no human-made building should surpass the height of nature, the basilica stands slightly lower than Barcelona’s highest hill, Montjuïc (173m). Although the main entrance ‘Glory Facade’ and the interior are still under construction and external grand stair installation faces community friction, the overall structure and exterior are officially completed this year with final completion expected around 2034.
Last month, the installation of the sculpture ‘Lamb of God’ inside the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’ was completed, and removal of remaining crane structures from the exterior as well as installation of an elevator inside the tower is planned.
The inauguration and blessing ceremony for the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’ on the evening of the 10th is the highlight of Gaudí’s 100th anniversary commemoration and the main event of the Pope’s visit to Spain from the 6th to the 12th. A total of 3.2 million euros (approximately 5.7 billion KRW) was spent from September 2025 to December this year on 31 commemorative programs.
About 8,000 attendees, including Spain’s King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Catalonia’s leader Salvador Illa, church and government dignitaries, and citizens, are expected to be seated inside and outside the basilica, with many more gathered nearby. Spain has deployed over 13,000 police officers to ensure security during the Pope’s visit.
Xavier Martínez, General Director of the Sagrada Família Construction Committee, emphasized, “This blessing ceremony aims to once again widely promote Gaudí’s magnificent artistic achievements worldwide and will be an opportunity to pay deep respect to Gaudí, an asset to humanity beyond Catalonia.”