Barcelona marked one of the most significant moments in the history of the Sagrada Família on 10 June at 8:00pm local time, as Pope Leo XIV presided over the solemn blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the highest and most symbolic point of Antoni Gaudí’s basilica.
Rising to 172.5 metres, the Tower of Jesus Christ is the tallest of the 18 towers conceived for the basilica and makes the Sagrada Família the tallest basilica in the world. Its inauguration represents a decisive milestone in the architectural development of the temple and the culmination of one of the central elements of Gaudí’s original design.
The ceremony took place on the day marking 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí, the visionary Catalan architect whose work transformed Barcelona’s skyline and became one of the world’s most recognisable expressions of architecture, spirituality and creativity.
The event began with a solemn Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV and dedicated to Antoni Gaudí on the centenary of his death. Attended by 8,000 people and Spain’s leading institutional authorities, the Mass underlined the historic, spiritual and cultural significance of the occasion.
Following the Mass, Pope Leo XIV solemnly blessed and inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, giving the occasion a unique spiritual and institutional dimension. The presence of the Holy Father placed the event among the most important moments in the recent history of the basilica and reinforced the universal significance of Gaudí’s legacy.
The inauguration concluded with a spectacular artistic tribute created especially for the occasion. A children’s choir performed as the Tower of Jesus Christ and the Barcelona sky became the setting for a music and light show, accompanied by a live orchestra and fireworks. The celebration culminated in a drone show, in which the figure of Antoni Gaudí appeared in the sky, as though contemplating his masterpiece from above, in a moving homage to his imagination, faith and enduring vision.
This historic moment was also a gesture of gratitude to the five generations of architects, artisans, builders, donors and visitors who, over more than a century, have contributed to bringing Gaudí’s vision closer to completion. Their collective effort has allowed one of the world’s most ambitious architectural projects to continue evolving and become a shared cultural legacy.
