Pope Leo blessed the new central Jesus Christ tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona on June 10, 2026, during a mass attended by thousands including Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez [1, 2]. The mass lasted about 90 minutes and featured a choir of 600 singers [1].
The completion of the tower in February 2026 brought the basilica to its maximum height of 172.5 metres (566 feet), making it the tallest church in the world [1, 2]. The tower’s peak was intentionally built slightly lower than Barcelona’s nearby Montjuic hill, which stands at 177 metres, following the wishes of architect Antoni Gaudi as an act of religious respect [1, 2].
Pope Leo delivered his homily in Spanish, Catalan, and Latin, condemning war and violence. He said, "We cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent" [1, 2]. A US-born pontiff, Pope Leo has also called for peace, dialogue, and addressing clergy sexual abuse during his visit to Spain [2].
The Sagrada Familia project began in 1882 and was initially expected to be completed in 2026, but construction delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic postponed final completion [2]. The basilica is Spain’s most-visited monument and charges an entrance fee that supports ongoing construction, supplemented by private donations [2].
The pope’s visit coincided with the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death on June 10, 1926. Before the mass, Pope Leo visited a prison and an abbey in the Montserrat mountains [2]. French sculptor Béatrice Bizot, who created a statue of Saint Roch for the basilica’s new areas, said she was excited to be part of the blessing, calling the basilica an "incredible" work showing "human beings capable of such a beautiful thing" [3].
The next major date for the basilica remains focused on completing all remaining construction phases, which continue to rely on public entrance fees and donations.
