Pope Leo crowns Sagrada Família skyline

On June 10 in Barcelona, Pope Leo will inaugurate the soaring central tower of the famed Sagrada Família basilica to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed what is now the world’s tallest church

SYMBOLIC TOWERS: Church’s 18 towers represent Christianity’s most important figures

GRAND FAÇADES: Each of three façades depicts an event in life of Christ; Nativity (east), Passion (west) and Glory (south)

James the Greater
Bartholomew
Thomas
Philip
James the Less
MARK
MARY
JESUS
Matthias
Jude Thaddeus
Simon
Barnabas
Peter
Andrew
Paul
LUKE
JOHN
MATTHEW

TOWER OF JESUS CHRIST
Finished in February, brings Sagrada Família to its maximum height of 172.5 meters

Viewing platform:
Holds up to 11 visitors at a time, offering panoramic views of Barcelona

Exterior: Clad in white glazed ceramic and glass, reflects sunlight by day
 and glows at night

CROSS: Four-armed cross designed as symbol of Christ’s universal presence

Weight:
200 tonnes
17m
13.5m

Cross based on double twist geometry – transitioning from square base to octagonal shape

Access to viewing platform through lift and spiral
staircaseFinished
Not finished

Towers of Evangelists (4)
135m

Tower of Mary
138m

Towers of Apostles (12)
98.5-135m

Sacristies (2)

St Barnabas Tower: Only tower  Gaudí would see completed

NATIVITY FAÇADE

GLORY FAÇADE
Temple’s main
entrance

Central nave

Crypt: Gaudí burial site

MILESTONES
1882: Construction begins in neo-Gothic style
1883: Gaudí takes over project, radically reimagining design
1926: Gaudí dies after being struck by tram
1936-39: Spanish Civil War; Many of Gaudí’s plaster models destroyed
1950s: Work resumes, guided by surviving models
1976: Towers on Passion façade completed
1992: Barcelona hosts Olympic Games, boosting tourism and church revenue
2010: Central nave’s vaulting completed; Pope Benedict XVI consecrates basilica
2020: Construction pauses briefly due to Covid-19 pandemic
2021-23: Tower of Virgin Mary and four towers of Evangelists, inaugurated
Jun 10, 2026: Pope Leo blesses Tower of Jesus

Source: Sagradafamilia.org
Picture: Getty Images
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