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Pope Léon XIV Blesses Sagrada Familia’s New Jesus‑Christ Tower

The blessing ties Gaudí’s centenary to the Vatican’s call for humane, coordinated migration responses.

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Ousmane Ly (à droite) est arrivé aux Canaries depuis la Gambie, en empruntant la terrible traversée sur la route la plus meurtrière vers l’Europe.
Léon XIV est arrivé mardi à Barcelone. [Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP]
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Overview

  • The pope celebrated mass and blessed the newly completed Jesus‑Christ tower at the Sagrada Familia on Wednesday, a ceremony held on the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death.
  • The tower was finished in February and brings the basilica to 172.5 metres, making it the tallest church in the world while the wider construction remains unfinished and under the care of a private foundation.
  • The visit spotlighted Gaudí’s growing cause for beatification after he was declared 'venerable' in 2025 and used the liturgy to reconnect Catholics with a major symbol of faith and artistry in Spain.
  • Léon XIV moved from Barcelona to the Canary Islands to meet migrants and humanitarian workers, urging a coordinated, humane international response to dangerous Atlantic crossings.
  • Persistent local disputes over the planned Façade of Glory, which would require demolishing two city blocks, and the Sagrada Familia’s heavy reliance on tourism revenues continue to shape debate about the project’s timeline and impact; plans for the pope’s state visit to France in late September have also been published.