On June 10, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will host a visit by Pope Leo XIV. This liturgical and commemorative event will serve to pay tribute to architect Antoni Gaudí on the centenary of his death and to officially bless the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ, a 172.5-meter-tall structure that makes the church the tallest in the world.
Basilica officials outlined the plans for an event that will bring together some 8,000 people both inside the building and in the designated outdoor areas. The main event will include a Mass presided over by the pontiff, followed by a symbolic lighting of the building’s main structures, uniting the local community with high-ranking public and ecclesiastical institutions.
Distribution and attendance of the faithful
Of the thousands of expected attendees, more than half will be residents from various parishes in Barcelona. The organizers have distributed a total of 4,200 tickets among local parishioners: 1,200 tickets for the Mass to be celebrated inside the temple and another 3,000 for the outdoor area in front of the Nativity façade, where giant screens will be set up.
The capacity of 4,000 people per section will be filled with guests from the archdiocese and members of the basilica’s staff. Additionally, the musical portion of the ceremony will be performed by a large choir composed of 600 singers.
Dignitaries and international attention
The event will feature notable institutional and religious representation. The King and Queen of Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, President of the Catalan Government Salvador Illa, and Mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni have confirmed their attendance , along with various European officials. On the ecclesiastical side, between 200 and 250 representatives will attend, including both Spanish and foreign cardinals and bishops, many of whom will participate in a meeting of Mediterranean bishops during those days.
To cover the event, some 1,600 press credentials from global media outlets have been requested. The television networks TVE, TV3, and Betevé will be responsible for producing the international broadcast. To facilitate their work, a temporary press room will be set up on a lot on Mallorca Street, a nearby plot of land previously acquired by the basilica’s management.
Details of the blessing and funding
During the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV will briefly step outside to bless the Tower of Jesus Christ. At that moment, this final major structure will be illuminated alongside the Tower of the Virgin Mary, which together stand as the two tallest structures in the architectural complex. Attendees will remain in their seats during this event, described by the organizers as simple. Furthermore, it was specified that access to the interior of the new tower, which will feature an elevator, will not be open to the public until 2028.
The general director of the Sagrada Familia, Xavier Martínez, clarified that the centennial commemoration program—which runs from last October through New Year’s Eve— has a budget of 3.2 million euros, funded entirely by corporate partners of the basilica, including CaixaBank, Condis, Cuatrecasas, the Endesa Foundation, Telefónica, and Prosegur.
