Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV blessed the Sagrada Família's 172.5-meter Tower of Jesus Christ.
- The tower's completion makes the basilica the world's tallest church.
- The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death.
- The Pope also visited a prison and a Benedictine abbey during his tour.
Pope Leo XIV visited Barcelona's Sagrada Família to bless the newly completed 172.5-meter Tower of Jesus Christ, making it the world's tallest church. The ceremony coincided with the 100th anniversary of the death of the basilica's visionary architect, Antoni Gaudí. The Pope celebrated Mass inside the vast church before proceeding outside to bless the spire, which is visible across the Catalan capital. This visit is a centerpiece of the Pope's week-long tour of Spain, during which he has expressed concerns about escalating global conflicts. The Sagrada Família, a UNESCO World Heritage site, draws millions of visitors annually, with entry fees funding its ongoing construction. The project, which began 144 years ago, now targets completion by 2035. Earlier on Wednesday, the Pope visited a prison and urged monks at Montserrat to avoid gossip and slander, including on social media.