During a Mass held in the expansive, light-filled church on Wednesday, Leo praised the structure as an “architectural masterpiece.” Following the service, he blessed the 172.5-meter Tower of Jesus Christ, adorned with a five-storey ceramic cross that is visible across the Catalan city.
The event, marking the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, also featured Pope Leo’s message that Christians should not support war. This occasion was a significant aspect of his week-long visit to Spain.
The Pope, who previously faced criticism from United States President Donald Trump for his stance on the Iran war, reiterated in a sermon attended by thousands, including Spain’s King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, that Christians “cannot believe in Jesus and promote war.”
Leo is the third pope to visit the basilica. His visit came a year after the Vatican’s recognition of an important step towards sainthood for Gaudi, whom their media portal has dubbed “God’s architect.”
Gaudi, born in 1852, was a devout Catholic who dedicated over 40 years to the Sagrada Familia, from 1883 until his death in a tram accident in 1926.
The completion of the project, featuring three facades in diverse architectural styles and 18 nature-inspired towers, has faced challenges. Initially projected for completion this year, the timeline has been extended to 2035.
Leo emphasized that the basilica’s unfinished state does not detract from its beauty but instead serves as a reminder that “the Christian life is always a journey.”
The basilica, described by the Pope as “an eloquent catechesis made of stones, colours and light,” along with six other works by Gaudi, are UNESCO heritage sites that attract millions of visitors to Barcelona annually.
Last year, a record 4.9 million people visited the church, with entry fees helping fund its ongoing construction.
Earlier in his visit, Leo made history as the first pope to visit a prison in Spain, stopping at one of the country’s largest penitentiaries. There, he encouraged inmates at Brians 1 to atone for their past actions and strive for better lives.
Leo noted that one’s past “does not condemn the future but rather offers the possibility of changing our decisions and choices.”
He also visited the Benedictine abbey in Montserrat, located about 60 km from Barcelona, where he urged monks and Christians to “renounce hurtful words, hasty judgment, gossip and slander,” including on social media.
In a nod to the region’s unique identity, Leo spoke briefly in Catalan. “That a pope, who is such an important person worldwide, talks to people in Catalan gives (me) goosebumps,” said Montserrat Cerdeira, 54, outside the abbey.
On Thursday, Pope Leo is scheduled to travel to the Canary Islands, where he plans to meet with migrants who have risked dangerous Atlantic waters, advocating for more humane treatment of immigrants.
This visit to the Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa is another key element of his tour.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo, coordinator of the Spanish Commission for Refugees in the Canary Islands, described Leo’s visit, where he will meet approximately 1,000 migrants on Friday, as a “significant milestone.”
According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 3000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands.
Leo, who has been vocal about the global leadership’s direction in recent months, told the Spanish parliament on Monday that the lack of support for the world’s migrants is challenging “the ethical foundation of the international order.”
