Pope Leo XIV will come to “reopen” the Sagrada Familia this June: this is what his visit will be like.

The pontiff will arrive in the Catalan capital on June 9 and 10 to bless the new Tower of Jesus Christ. The program includes a mass event at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc.

David León Himelfarb • February 13, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will come to “reopen” the Sagrada Familia this June: this is what his visit will be like.

Barcelona is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV on a historic 35-hour visit that will take place on June 9 and 10. The Bishop of Rome will travel to Spain on an official tour that also includes stops in Madrid and the Canary Islands, according to sources at Barcelona City Hall.

The highlight of the agenda will be the “re-inauguration” of the Sagrada Família on Wednesday, June 10. The event symbolically coincides with the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the architect who dedicated his life to designing this unique temple.

Mass gathering in Montjuïc

The Pope’s activities will begin on Tuesday, June 9, at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Although the Holy See has not yet specified whether it will be a solemn mass or a prayer meeting, a massive turnout of the faithful is expected in the stands at Montjuïc.

This trip is the result of months of diplomatic efforts. Last October, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, formally extended the invitation to the pontiff during a private audience at the Vatican. The last time Barcelona welcomed a successor to Peter was in November 2010, with the visit of Benedict XVI.

The top of the Sagrada Família

During his stay, Leo XIV will bless the Tower of Jesus Christ, the highest point of the monument, which will reach 172.5 meters. This height respects Gaudí’s wish not to exceed the 177 meters of Montjuïc mountain, arguing that the work of man should not surpass that of God.

Currently, work is focused on placing the large cross that crowns the tower. This structure, 17 meters high and covered with white glazed ceramic and glass, will feature a sculpture of the “Lamb of God” by Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito inside .

Xavier Martínez, general director of the basilica, will welcome the Holy Father for this architectural milestone that will definitively establish the Sagrada Família as the tallest church on the planet.

You may be interested in: What you should know about the Sagrada Familia before you go