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.
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