Pope Leo visited Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia on Wednesday to inaugurate its newest geometric spire, making the modernist masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí the world’s tallest church.
After celebrating Mass inside the light-filled basilica at 7:30 p.m. (17:30 GMT), the pope stepped outside to bless the 172.5-metre (566 ft) Tower of Jesus Christ, topped with a five-storey ceramic cross visible across the Catalan capital.
Members of the Spanish royal family, the prime minister, and thousands of the faithful were in attendance for the inauguration Mass on Wednesday evening.
The occasion carried deep religious significance, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.
This marks the third time a pope has visited the basilica. Last year, the Vatican whose media portal has described Gaudí as “God’s architect” approved a key step in the process of recognising him as a saint.
Born in 1852, Gaudí was a devout Catholic who devoted more than 40 years to the Sagrada Familia, from 1883 until his death in a tram accident in 1926. Completing the vast project, which features three facades in distinct architectural styles and 18 nature-inspired towers, has been challenging. While originally intended for completion this year, the target date has been extended to 2035.
The basilica, along with six other Gaudí works, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and attracts millions of visitors to Barcelona annually. Last year, 4.9 million people visited, setting a new record, with entry fees supporting ongoing construction.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pope Leo became the first pontiff to visit one of Spain’s largest prisons. At Brians 1 penitentiary, he encouraged inmates to make amends for their past actions and embrace better choices.
“A person’s past does not condemn the future but offers the possibility of changing our decisions and choices,” he said.
He also visited the Benedictine abbey in Montserrat, around 60 km (40 miles) from Barcelona, urging monks to reject hurtful words, hasty judgements, gossip and slander, including on social media.
In a nod to the region’s cultural identity, Leo addressed people briefly in Catalan.
“That a pope, such an important global figure, speaks to people in Catalan gives me goosebumps,” said Montserrat Cerdeira, 54, outside the abbey.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washingto...
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury. ...
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, au...
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
More than 100 countries now spend more on servicing debt than on education, UNESCO has warned, as it called on governments and international lenders to expand the use of debt-for-education swaps.
South Africa international midfielder Jayden Adams, who helped Bafana Bafana reach the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time, has died at the age of 25.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches China. The typhoon, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100mph), is nearing a remote chain of Japanese islands, east of Taiwan on Friday.
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury.
A Miami-based tycoon wanted in Albania for allegedly laundering drug money is suspected of faking the deeds to land where Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner wants to build a controversial multi-billion dollar resort, the country’s organised crime agency said in case files reviewed by Reuters.
A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering British politician Ann Widdecombe has been released and is no longer part of the investigation, UK police have said.
Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s capital early on Saturday, injuring at least 10 people, officials said. The attack came as Kyiv faces a shortage of air defence munitions while awaiting fresh supplies to counter Russian strikes.
The remains of 10 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide were carried to the Potočari Memorial Cemetery in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday ahead of their burial during the 31st anniversary commemoration.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment