Pope Leo XIV visited the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, to celebrate a Mass and bless the new tower, which makes the church the tallest in the world. The basilica, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is a stunning mixture of color, architectural genius, and geometry.

A Work in Progress

The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for 144 years and is expected to be completed in the near future. The pope’s visit marks a major step in the completion of this extraordinary religious building, which attracts millions of visitors each year.

During his homily, Pope Leo XIV praised Gaudí as an ‘architect inspired by faith’ who designed a building that can be likened to a ‘spiritual pilgrimage.’ The Vatican has put Gaudí on the path to sainthood, declaring him ‘venerable’ last year.

The pope also emphasized the importance of faith in shaping the world, saying, ‘We cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those who flee from misery.’

A Symbol of Faith

The Sagrada Familia is a symbol of the Christian faith, with its 18 towers representing different figures from scripture, including the apostles, evangelists, and Virgin Mary. The three facades depict the life of Jesus, his death, and final judgment.

The basilica’s design is a testament to Gaudí’s inspiration from the natural world and religious ritual and imagery. The towers are often likened to ‘drippy candles,’ but are actually inspired by ‘castells,’ the human towers of people standing on top of each other at religious festivals, a Catalan tradition.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.