Pope León XIV visited Barcelona on Wednesday to inaugurate the Torre de Jesucristo at the Sagrada Família during a light and drone show [1, 2].
The event marks a historic milestone for the basilica and the Catholic Church, coinciding with the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years [3].
The Torre de Jesucristo reached its final height of 172.5 meters in February 2026 [1]. This height establishes the Sagrada Família as the tallest church in the world [3]. The inauguration ceremony featured a combination of music, lighting, and drones to illuminate the structure during the Pope's pastoral visit [1, 4].
Beyond the architectural achievement, the celebration honored the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, who died 100 years ago in 1926 [5]. The event served as both a public celebration of the new tower and a liturgical observance of Gaudí's legacy [4, 5].
"Me entrego a la belleza iluminadora de la Sagrada Família," Pope León XIV said [5].
While some reports characterized the lighting as a public entertainment event [4], other accounts described it as a formal liturgical celebration integrated into the papal visit [5]. The spectacle culminated in a drone display over the new spire, drawing large crowds to the Barcelona landmark [4].
The visit represents the most significant diplomatic and religious engagement between the Holy See and Spain in over a decade [3].
“"Me entrego a la belleza iluminadora de la Sagrada Família."”
The completion of the Torre de Jesucristo signals the nearing end of a construction project that has spanned over a century. By aligning the inauguration with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death and a rare papal visit, the Vatican and the city of Barcelona have transformed a structural milestone into a global cultural and religious event, reinforcing the basilica's status as a primary symbol of both faith and architectural innovation.
