Pope Leo XIV to Bless Sagrada Família’s Record 172.5-Meter Tower on 100th Anniversary of Gaudí’s Death

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Barcelona on June 10, 2026, to bless the tallest tower of the Sagrada Família basilica. 5-meter Gothic spire is a record height for a church in Europe. A monumental cross of glass and white ceramic was raised atop the tower earlier in spring 2026.

The pontiff's visit coincides with the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death. Gaudí was born in 1852 and died in 1926. The Sagrada Família is Spain's most visited monument. Juan de la Rubia, chief organist at the basilica, is preparing the musical program for the ceremony.

A photo of de la Rubia at the organ was taken on May 21, 2026. He obtained his pilot's license a few years ago and compared the experience of flying to playing the organ. "I always wondered how such a large machine could fly and, similar to an organ, how the person at the controls can act remotely: the pilot to move the plane's wings, the organist to produce sounds from pipes far from the keyboards," de la Rubia said.

Visitors will be able to take an elevator to the top of the tower starting in 2027. The local diocese hopes Gaudí will be beatified in the near future.