Overview
- The crane lift of the lower arm of the cross on the Torre de Jesucristo raised the basilica to 162.91 meters, edging past Ulm’s Ulmer Münster at 161.53 meters.
- The installed element measures 7.25 meters and weighs more than 24 tonnes; it arrived in four panels, was assembled on a 54-meter platform, and was hoisted into place by a large crane.
- Construction teams plan to install the remaining cross arms and finishing pieces in the coming months, bringing the tower to roughly 172–172.5 meters and the completed cross to about 17 meters tall.
- The cross components are being prefabricated in Germany and delivered by truck to the site, reflecting the project’s staged, off-site manufacturing approach.
- Temple officials say the works are funded largely by ticket revenues, with about 4.9 million paid visitors in 2024, and they have invited the Pope to the centenary mass in June 2026.