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last mo.

Pope Blesses Sagrada Família’s Jesus Tower, Making It the World’s Tallest Church

Marking Gaudí’s centenary, the ceremony ushers in a phase focused on interior finishes, elevator installs and a contested Glory Façade.

A view of the Basilica of Montserrat at the Monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, on Wednesday, June 10.
Performers make a human tower, known as Castells, for Pope Leo XIV as he leads a vigil of prayer at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, in Barcelona, on Tuesday, June 9.
A detail of the Passion Façade shows the basilica's famous magic square at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, May 15, 2026. Unlike a sudoku, every row, column and diagonal adds up to 33, symbolizing the age of Christ at his death.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass and blessed the Tower of Jesus Christ on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and he visited Antoni Gaudí’s tomb as part of the centenary events.
  • The Tower of Jesus Christ stands about 172.5 meters (566 feet) after the installation of a monumental cross and now gives the basilica the title of world’s tallest church.
  • The cross was manufactured in Germany, shipped in sections and assembled on site, while architects say decorative and non-structural work will continue for years.
  • Organizers livestreamed the Mass, including a TikTok partnership, and outlets reported varying attendance figures from several thousand up to about 8,000 guests for the indoor ceremony.
  • The Sagrada Família remains a work in progress funded by visitor fees and donations, with planned interior finishes, elevator installations and a disputed Glory Façade that has drawn local protests and could affect nearby homes.