Pope Leo XIV marked the completion of the tallest tower of Barcelona's Basilica of the Sagrada Família June 10, celebrating the culmination of more than a century of construction while using the opportunity to issue a forceful call for peace.
Speaking to thousands gathered inside the basilica — including Spanish monarchs King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Catalan President Salvador Illa — Pope Leo praised Sagrada Família as a “visible sign of the invisible God, for whose glory its towers rise.”
Though parts of the basilica remain unfinished, the Pope said its ongoing construction reflects the Christian life, which is “always a journey.” He encouraged those in attendance to remember that they themselves are “temples of the Holy Spirit,” called to carry out the work of their lives in collaboration with God.
Reflecting on King David’s desire to build a temple for God, Pope Leo noted that the Lord instead told David that He would construct him a house.
“With this announcement, Scripture shows us that we are not the ones who give a place to God,” the Pope said, later continuing, “It is God instead who gives us a place, and the place that he gives us is His own heart: the place of his Son, for us who were strangers; the place of the Beloved, for us who are sinners.”
Pope Leo then cited the Gospel reading in which Jesus admonishes the Pharisees: “If you do not believe that ‘I am,’ you will die in your sins.”
“Strong words, which are by no means threats, nor blackmail,” he said, adding that Jesus’ statement is rather an invitation to salvation.
“It is because of this that, if we do not believe in Jesus Christ, we remain in sin and not only do we die, but we also cause the death of our neighbor,” he said. “Dear brethren, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who cry, those who flee from misery.”
Turning to the theme of the Cross, Pope Leo highlighted the 566-foot ceramic cross that sits atop the Tower of Jesus Christ. To admire the work of art of the cross, it is necessary to lift the gaze to Jesus, thus providing an opportunity for the “truth of God and the truth of ourselves” to be revealed, the Pontiff said.
“Looking at Christ, we can see the world with renewed eyes: the tower of the cross becomes then a standard of charity, because God loves us in this way, transforming an instrument of death into a sign of hope,” he added.
Honoring the magnificent architecture of the Sagrada Família
The Pope also extolled the virtues of Venerable Antoni Gaudi, the basilica’s most renowned architect, whose death in June 1926 was commemorated during the inauguration ceremony.
“As an architect burning with faith,” Pope Leo said, “Venerable Antoni Gaudí conceived of these spaces with the desire to tell the mysteries of the life of the Lord: in this way he has proposed for us a spiritual pilgrimage that takes us through an encounter with Christ who was born, died, and resurrected for us.”
The Pope concluded by encouraging the faithful to allow the beauty of the Sagrada Familia basilica to inspire them to learn more deeply “the art of living,” according to Scripture from Jesus as Teacher and Lord.
“While we lift our gaze toward Him, the Crucified and Resurrected One, let us commit ourselves to lifting the face of those who lie in the dust,” he said. “And let us demonstrate in this way that the Sagrada Família is the tallest church in the world, not to stand out in worldly classifications, but rather to guide the steps of the people of God who are pilgrims in this land of Catalunya, with the cross that lights the way, like a lamp lighted in anticipation of the return of the Bridegroom.”
Blessing of tower and unveiling of commemorative plaque
Following Mass, Pope Leo proceeded to the exterior of the basilica, where he gave an inaugural blessing to the tower and sprinkled both the basilica and the crowds gathered around it with holy water.
Pope Leo blesses the tower of Jesus Christ on the Sagrada Família. pic.twitter.com/oCvNgf05Et
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After a performance of the “Sanctus” by a children’s choir and a light show that highlighted the tower — which culminated in fireworks — the Holy Father unveiled a commemorative plaque built into the side of the basilica. The plaque is the third of its kind, following one honoring Pope St. John Paul II’s visit in 1982 and another commemorating Pope Benedict XVI’s consecration of the basilica in 2010.