Pope Leo XIV blesses newly completed tower at Barcelona's Sagrada Família, making it world's tallest church

Jun 7, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will bless the final tower of Barcelona's Sagrada Família, making it the world's tallest church 144 years after construction began. The event marks the centennial of architect Antoni Gaudí's death. While the basilica is a major tourist draw, funded by nearly 5 million annual visitors, its completion is shadowed by controversy over a proposed staircase that threatens to displace local residents.

Pope Leo XIV Barcelona visit

▪Pope Leo XIV will bless the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona's Sagrada Família on June 10, 2026.
▪The Pope's visit also includes a trip to the medieval Montserrat monastery, a sacred site for many Catalan people.
▪The tower's inauguration coincides with the 100th anniversary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí.

Sagrada Família international tourism

▪Foreigners comprise 90% of the Sagrada Família's visitors, with more Americans visiting than Spaniards.
▪In 2025, the basilica received nearly 5 million visitors, generating over $150 million in revenue.
▪The Sagrada Família is funded entirely by donations and revenue from visitor ticket sales.

Montserrat monastery pilgrimage site

▪The Montserrat monastery, visited by 2 million people annually, includes an 11th-century Benedictine abbey and a revered Black Madonna statue.
▪Many Catalans consider Montserrat their holy mountain and a key part of their culture, language, and traditions.

Declining Catholic practice Spain

▪According to a 2024 poll, just over half of Spaniards identify as Catholic, but only about one in five describe themselves as practicing.
▪Catalonia is one of Spain's most secular provinces.

Barcelona overtourism concerns

▪A proposed monumental staircase for the Sagrada Família's main entrance could require demolishing nearby homes and businesses, causing tension with residents.
▪Protesters concerned with overtourism in Barcelona have targeted tourist areas, with one group attempting to reach the Sagrada Família.
▪An association has been formed for residents affected by the staircase proposal, who say they lack clear information on the construction timeline.

Gaudí Montserrat architectural influence

▪Upon completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Sagrada Família became the world's tallest church at 566 feet.
▪Gaudí's design for the basilica was influenced by the rock formations of the Montserrat mountain, where he had apprenticed as a young architect.
▪During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, anarchists destroyed many of Gaudí's original plans and plaster models for the basilica.
▪Construction on the Sagrada Família began 144 years ago in 1882.