Pope Leo XIV blesses Sagrada Familia's tallest tower in historic milestone
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV led the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ in Barcelona.
- The 172.5-metre tower is the tallest of the Sagrada Familia's 18 planned towers.
- With the completion of the tower, the Sagrada Familia becomes the world's tallest church.
Tower of Jesus Christ becomes the world's tallest church tower as thousands gather in Barcelona
Thousands of people gathered in Barcelona on Wednesday as Pope Leo XIV blessed the Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest and most significant tower of the Sagrada Familia.
The ceremony marked a major milestone for the world-famous basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí, with Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia among those attending the event.
Crowds filled the area surrounding the church as the inauguration took place. Later, the Sagrada Familia was illuminated and fireworks lit up the night sky to celebrate the occasion.
Standing at 172.5 metres, the Tower of Jesus Christ is the tallest of the basilica's planned 18 towers. The structure is crowned by a five-storey ceramic cross and serves as the central tower of the monument.
The completion and blessing of the tower officially make the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world.
The event also coincided with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death.
The architect, whose vision shaped the basilica, died in 1926, leaving behind a project that has continued to evolve for more than a century.
The blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ marks one of the most significant moments in the history of the Sagrada Familia and its ongoing construction.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
