Pope Leo XIV blesses Sagrada Familia's Tower of Jesus, completing historic Catalonia visit

Pope Leo XIV blessed the Tower of Jesus at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia on Wednesday, a structure soaring 172.5 meters high. This consecration elevates Antoni Gaudí's basilica to the status of the world's tallest religious building. The significant ceremony drew state and regional authorities from Catalonia, marking a key moment in the pontiff's apostolic journey. During his homily at the Mass, attended by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Pope Leo XIV described the basilica as a "symbol of unity and concord." He also delivered an international message, stating, "One cannot believe in Jesus and promote war and kill innocents," nor "abandon those who flee," referencing the global refugee crisis. The event concluded with an outdoor display where drones formed the image of architect Antoni Gaudí against the Barcelona sky. Earlier, a 13-year-old blind girl named Valentina had described the tower's features to the pontiff using an adapted model. The Pope's visit also included a trip to the Montserrat abbey, where he led the rosary and called for respect in political debates and online platforms. In a historic first for a papal visit to Spain, Leo XIV visited the Brians 1 penitentiary center, meeting with inmates and offering words of encouragement. He also engaged with a local community in Barcelona's El Raval neighborhood, responding to questions from a young boy and sharing personal anecdotes from his time as a bishop in Peru and his youth playing American football.

“

a sign of unity and of concord