Overview
- A giant crane set the upper arm of Gaudí’s cross atop the Tower of Jesus after wind delays, completing the tower’s exterior and taking the basilica to its maximum 172.5 meters.
- The maneuver was livestreamed by the builders and executed by specialist crews working at height as visitors observed from around the site.
- The crowning element is about 17 meters tall and 13–13.5 meters wide, clad in white ceramic and glass with roughly 15,000 pieces, though reports differ on its exact weight.
- The basilica consolidates its status as the world’s tallest church and the highest building in Barcelona’s urban core, with scaffolding removal and interior work still in progress.
- A blessing is planned for June 10 on the centenary of Gaudí’s death, the pope’s attendance remains unconfirmed, and long-term tasks include the politically sensitive Glory Façade and a future summit lookout not expected before 2027.