DistantNews
Support us
Pope Leo XIV hails Sagrada Familia as 'sign of unity and concord'
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Pope Leo XIV hails Sagrada Familia as 'sign of unity and concord'

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Pope Leo XIV praised the Sagrada Familia basilica as a "sign of unity and concord" during a Mass attended by Spanish royals.
  • He spoke on the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death, emphasizing the basilica as a living, unfinished work.
  • The Pope also condemned war and the killing of innocents, stating that belief in Jesus is incompatible with such actions.

Pope Leo XIV lauded the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona as a "sign of unity and concord" during a Mass on Wednesday. The service was attended by Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, along with other dignitaries. The Pope's visit coincided with the 100th anniversary of the death of the basilica's visionary architect, Antoni Gaudí.

This is a temple that makes us a family beloved by the Lord, nourished by his own life in the Eucharist. This is how the City of Counts and all of Catalonia gather in this temple, also a sign of unity and concord.

— Pope Leo XIVDuring his homily at the Sagrada Familia basilica.

Speaking within the iconic temple, the Pope described it as a place that unites people in God's love, making the city and Catalonia converge. He noted that the basilica, the world's tallest Catholic church and a major landmark, seems to extend its arms to welcome everyone to the altar and to God's word. He emphasized that the faithful are the "living stones" of this edifice, with Christ as its foundation.

All of us are the living stones of this work, which has Christ as its foundation and culmination, beginning and end.

— Pope Leo XIVDescribing the role of the faithful in the basilica's construction.

"Much more than a monument, the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress," Pope Leo XIV stated, drawing a parallel to the Christian life as a continuous journey and a divine project. He suggested that its unfinished state is not a flaw but a promise, urging believers to honor it with consistency and cooperation in God's plan.

Much more than a monument, the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress, reminding us that Christian life is always a journey, because it is a project that God carries out.

— Pope Leo XIVReflecting on the ongoing construction of the basilica.

In a powerful address, the pontiff also condemned violence, declaring, "We cannot believe in Jesus and promote war, or kill innocent people, or abandon those who suffer, cry, or flee from misery." He concluded by reiterating that the Sagrada Familia's height is not for worldly acclaim but to guide pilgrims on their earthly journey, with the cross serving as a beacon of hope.

We cannot believe in Jesus and promote war, or kill innocent people, or abandon those who suffer, cry, or flee from misery.

— Pope Leo XIVCondemning violence during his homily.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog