Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Presents Plans for the Inaugural Ceremony of the Tower of Jesus Christ by Leo XIV. The Atheist President of Spain Will Attend the Mass.

(ZENIT News / Barcelona, 05.22.2026) – The Sagrada Familia Construction Board Foundation presented the details of the blessing and inauguration ceremony for the Tower of Jesus Christ at a press conference on Thursday morning, May 21. The ceremony will take place on June 10, 2026, coinciding with the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí. The event will be presided over by Pope Leo XIV, who will bless the central Tower of the Basilica, in a ceremony expected to be one of the most significant moments in the recent history of the Sagrada Familia. The press conference was held in the Sala Creuer, located inside the Tower of Jesus Christ, and included remarks by Xavier Martínez, General Director of the Sagrada Familia, and Jordi Faulí, the architect in charge.

During his remarks, Xavier Martínez reviewed the activities organized so far, as part of the commemorative events for the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

The program includes a total of 31 events planned between autumn 2025 and Christmas 2026. Twelve have already taken place since October 2025, while 19 more are scheduled before the end of the year. The Director General also noted that the commemoration has a budget of 3.2 million euros, financed entirely through a patronage plan promoted by the Sagrada Familia. He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the collaborating entities participating in the commemorative project: Audioguiarte, CaixaBank, Clorian Ticketing, Condis Supermarkets, Cuatrecasas, Fundación Endesa, GetYourGuide, Henkel, TUI Museums, Palaces and Museums, Prosegur Security, Telefónica, Tiqets, and Viking, to whom he expressed his sincere appreciation for their collaboration.

This press conference also detailed the program for June 10, 2026, the date on which Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Solemn Mass at the Sagrada Familia to commemorate the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. At 10:00 a.m., a floral offering will take place at the architect’s tomb, located in the crypt, as a gesture of remembrance and gratitude. At 7:30 p.m., the Solemn Mass in homage to Antoni Gaudí will begin, officiated by Pope Leo XIV and concelebrated by Cardinals, Bishops, and Priests, accompanied by musicians and choirs from all over Catalonia who will fill the Basilica with their singing. At the end, Pope Leo XIV will go outside the Basilica and bless the Tower of Jesus, in a celebration of great spiritual and institutional significance. Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, the President of the Spanish Government and the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia have confirmed their attendance.

The Sagrada Familia has donated 4,200 tickets which will be distributed to the public through the parishes.

Before concluding his remarks, Xavier Martínez reported on the expected attendance for the event. More than 4,500 people will attend the Solemn Mass in person by invitation and others will follow the event outside via screens. The celebration will also be followed through the institutional television signal, social media, and screens installed at various points throughout the city.

An additional 4,000 invitations were planned for those wishing to follow the event from outside the Basilica, specifically on Marina Street, in front of the Nativity façade. Of these invitations, 3,080 were allocated to parish communities and 920 to institutional commitments of the Sagrada Familia and the Archdiocese.

For his part, Jordi Faulí, the architect in charge of the Sagrada Família project, reviewed the main construction milestones of the Tower of Jesus Christ, from the start of work on October 16, 2018, with the placement of the first panels at a height of 85 meters, to the installation of the last piece of the Cross on February 20, 2026. He described the completion of the Tower and the Cross: its form, materials, and symbolism. He also noted that work has been underway for months on the interior cladding and that the figure of the Divine Lamb was recently installed, in addition to mentioning that work is being done on the installation of an elevator. Furthermore, the crane’s support structure will be removed soon.

With this commemorative program, the Sagrada Familia Construction Board Foundation aims to bring the figure and work of Antoni Gaudí closer to the public, as well as pay tribute to the legacy of one of Catalonia’s most universal architects. It can be viewed at www.sagradafamilia2026.org