Pope Leon XIV celebrated a Mass and blessed the highest tower of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona on June 10, 2026 [1, 2].

The event marks a major milestone in the construction of the basilica and coincides with the centenary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí [2, 3].

The ceremony was part of the Pope's official visit to Spain [2, 4]. The blessing of the tower serves as an inauguration of the structure's highest point, though some estimates suggest about 10 years of construction work remain for the tower [1].

Attendance for the event was high, with reports indicating between 8,000 [4] and 9,000 [1] faithful gathered for the blessing. The gathering also included 250 bishops, and 1,600 invited journalists [4].

The scale of the event involved significant logistics and expenditure. The estimated cost of the Mass ceremony was 200,000 euros [4].

The Sagrada Família has remained under construction for over a century, evolving into a global symbol of Barcelona. The completion of the highest tower represents the fulfillment of a primary architectural goal for the site, a goal that spans generations of builders and architects since Gaudí's time [2, 3].

“Pope Leon XIV celebrated a Mass and blessed the highest tower of the Sagrada Família”

The visit of the pontiff to inaugurate the basilica's highest tower provides a symbolic ecclesiastical seal of approval on a project that has faced decades of financial and architectural challenges. By linking the event to the centenary of Antoni Gaudí, the Vatican reinforces the connection between modern architectural achievement and traditional Catholic spirituality.