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The Guardian World news
Crowds turn out in Barcelona for pope blessing Sagrada Família’s final tower Stephen Burgen in Barcelona
As completion of 144-year basilica nears, questions swirl over resemblance of church to architect’s original plansIt has been a long wait but 144 years after work began, Pope Leo XIV has blessed the recently completed central tower of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família church in the presence of members of the Spanish royal family, the prime minister and hundreds of bishops.With the completion of the Jesus Christ tower, the tallest of 18 in the temple, the basilica has reached its full height of 172.
10 June 2026 at 18:50

Crowds turn out in Barcelona for pope blessing Sagrada Família’s final tower

10 June 2026 at 18:50

As completion of 144-year basilica nears, questions swirl over resemblance of church to architect’s original plans

It has been a long wait but 144 years after work began, Pope Leo XIV has blessed the recently completed central tower of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família church in the presence of members of the Spanish royal family, the prime minister and hundreds of bishops.

With the completion of the Jesus Christ tower, the tallest of 18 in the temple, the basilica has reached its full height of 172.5 metres. It is now not only the world’s tallest church but Barcelona’s tallest building. It was consecrated in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.