Spanish King, Queen, and Pope Complete Gaudí's Centennial Project in Barcelona. The main tower of the Sagrada Família has been completed in Barcelona. The ceremony was attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Pope Leo XIV. The event marks the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death.
A historic milestone has been reached in Barcelona: 144 years after construction began, all towers of the Sagrada Familia, including the central tower of Jesus with a cross, have now been completed. This event marks a key moment for the city and all of Spain, as the basilica is now officially recognized as the tallest church in the world at 172.5 meters. The inauguration coincided with the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, who dedicated much of his life to this project.
At the solemn mass led by Pope Leo XIV, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were in attendance. This was the third time the queen exercised her privilege of wearing white in the presence of the Pope. Letizia chose a Redondo Brand dress, the same one she wore at a similar event last year. Upon arrival, the royal couple, accompanied by dignitaries—the President of the Catalan Parliament Josep Rull, the head of the Catalan government Salvador Illa, and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—toured the basilica’s new towers.
A special moment at the ceremony involved 13-year-old Valentina, a blind girl with Leber's syndrome. Using a model of the Jesus tower, she described details of the architecture to the Pope and the royal family. The Pope then presented her with a rosary. Afterward, Leo XIV visited the chapel where Gaudí rests, lit a candle in his memory, and then went to prepare for the mass.
More than 200 bishops took part in the liturgy, accompanied by 500 adult singers and 100 children from various choirs. The Mass combined elements of Gregorian chant, Catalan and European sacred music. The Pope thanked the King and Queen for their hospitality and addressed those gathered in Catalan several times.
This was the last joint event of Felipe VI and Letizia with the Pope during his visit to Spain. On Friday, the King will travel to Tenerife to bid farewell to the pontiff before his return to Rome. The connection between the Spanish monarchy and the Sagrada Familia goes back to the early 20th century: Alfonso XIII visited the construction site, where Gaudí personally showed him the progress of the work. Later, other monarchs also visited the basilica, as did Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
The Sagrada Familia is Gaudí's main masterpiece, blending modernist architecture, biblical symbolism, and engineering innovation. The basilica is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts millions of tourists every year. However, it is not yet considered completely finished: the Glory Facade with its monumental staircase and sculptural ensemble still needs to be built. According to estimates, this stage may be completed by 2034–2035.
Interest in major religious events in Spain remains consistently high: earlier, attention was drawn by David Bustamante's performance for the Pope in Madrid, which was covered in the article about Miguel Ríos's reaction to the performance of the 'Hymn to Joy'.
For reference: The Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882, with Gaudí leading the project from 1883 to 1926. The basilica is dedicated to the Holy Family and was conceived as a “stone Bible.” Its architecture features engineering solutions unique for its time, including hyperbolic structures and parabolic arches. Today, the Sagrada Família is one of the most recognizable symbols of Barcelona and all of Spain.
