Pope to inaugurate Sagrada Família tower on Gaudí centenary

Monday 08 June 2026 - 09:59

By: Dakir Madiha

Pope to inaugurate Sagrada Família tower on Gaudí centenary

The Sagrada Família in Barcelona has reached its final planned height of 172.5 metres after the completion of the central tower of Jesus Christ, marking a major milestone in one of the world’s longest-running architectural projects. The basilica now stands as the tallest religious building on the planet, ending decades of speculation over whether its design would ever be fully realized.

The final structural section of the tower was installed in February 2026 following a highly controlled construction phase described by engineers as a precision operation. The tower is crowned with a four-armed cross made of glass and white ceramic designed to reflect light day and night, in line with Antoni Gaudí’s original vision. Its height was deliberately set below Montjuïc hill in Barcelona to respect Gaudí’s belief that human creations should not surpass divine work.

The basilica now includes 14 completed towers out of a planned 18. Twelve are dedicated to the apostles, four to the evangelists, one to the Virgin Mary, and the central tower to Jesus Christ. With this milestone, the structure surpasses the Ulm Cathedral in Germany by around 11 metres, setting a new benchmark in religious architecture worldwide.

A ceremonial inauguration is scheduled for 10 June 2026, the exact date marking 100 years since Gaudí’s death in 1926. A papal mass is expected to take place at the basilica, with the tower officially blessed during the event. Spanish state representatives are also expected to attend, reflecting the global significance of the moment for both architecture and cultural heritage.

Despite the completion of the central tower, construction is not finished. Interior work on the tower continues, and the basilica’s Glory façade remains under development. Current projections place full completion of the entire structure around 2034, extending a project that has already spanned more than a century.