Sagrada Família Exterior Completed After 145 Years; Central Tower Inauguration to Mark Centennial of Gaudí's Death

On June 10 (local time), marking the centennial of the death of Catalan master Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (1852–1926), known as "God's Architect," an inauguration ceremony will be held for the central tower of his representative masterpiece, the Sagrada Família (Basilica of the Holy Family).

To mark the occasion, Pope Leo XIV will visit Barcelona to celebrate a memorial Mass for the centennial of Gaudí's death and bless the "Tower of Jesus Christ," which serves as the crowning glory of the basilica's exterior.

Dedicated to the Holy Family of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, the Sagrada Família is a representative landmark of Spain, attracting 4.9 million Catholic faithful and tourists from around the world each year.

The 4.9 million visitors represent the highest number of paying ticket holders among the various attractions in the tourism powerhouse of Spain, with free visitors who only view the exterior estimated to reach 20 million annually.

As of last year, 4.9% of the basilica's visitors (approximately 240,000 people) were South Koreans.

It is highly popular among South Korean travelers, ranking fifth among foreign visitors after the United States (15.1%), China (7.2%), Italy (6.9%), and France (6.9%).

Drawing such a large number of visitors, the Sagrada Família, which broke ground in March 1882 and has been under construction for 145 years, is an unfinished basilica and the tallest church in the world.

In February this year, the upper part of the cross was installed atop the central "Tower of Jesus Christ," reaching its peak height of 172.5m and completing the overall structure and exterior.

In accordance with Gaudí's belief that human-made structures should not rise higher than nature, God's creation, the tower is slightly lower than Montjuïc (173m), the highest hill in Barcelona.

Although the main entrance, the "Glory Façade," and the interior of the basilica are still under construction, and the installation of a large outdoor staircase is causing friction with the local community—pushing the expected final completion to around 2034—the Board of Construction of the Sagrada Família explained that the overall exterior and structure of the basilica will be officially completed this year.

Last month, the installation of the sculpture "Lamb of God" inside the Tower of Jesus Christ was completed. Soon, the remaining crane anchoring structures on the exterior will be dismantled, and an elevator will be installed inside the tower.

The inauguration and blessing ceremony of the "Tower of Jesus Christ," to be held on the evening of June 10, is the highlight of the Gaudí centennial celebrations and the main event of the Pope's visit to Spain, which runs from June 6 to 12.

Xavier Martínez, general director of the Board of Construction of the Sagrada Família, introduced during a pre-inauguration press conference on May 21, "We have prepared 31 commemorative programs, investing a total of 3.2 million euros (approximately 5.7 billion won) from September 2025 to December this year."

Around 8,000 people, including high-ranking church and government officials such as King Felipe VI of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Salvador Illa, the president of the Government of Catalonia, as well as citizens, are expected to be seated inside and outside the venue, with a much larger crowd anticipated to gather near the basilica.

Spain has deployed over 13,000 police officers to maintain tight security during the Pope's visit.

Martínez emphasized, "Through this blessing ceremony, we aim to once again widely share Gaudí's great world of work and artistic achievements with the entire world. It will be an occasion to pay deep respect to Gaudí, who is an asset to humanity beyond Catalonia."

The Sagrada Família has garnered global attention not only for its religious value as a Catholic cathedral but also for its high architectural and artistic significance, underpinned by the dramatic life of the genius architect Gaudí.

Born into a devout Catholic family in Catalonia on June 25, 1852, Gaudí passed away on June 10, 1926, following a tram accident.

Despite his eccentric and hot-tempered nature, Gaudí's design skills—characterized by a deep reverence for nature and a pioneering modernity—were recognized during his lifetime, leading him to take on several major projects.

Casa Milà, nicknamed "La Pedrera" (The Quarry) for its resemblance to a mountain of rugged stone; Park Güell, which was developed as a luxury residential estate but failed and became a park; and Casa Batlló, which embodies the legend of the dragon in bone-like structures, continue to draw countless tourists today.

Among these, the Sagrada Família is considered a masterpiece that perfectly embodies deep religious faith both artistically and architecturally.

In addition to Gaudí's buildings in Catalonia, the Board of Construction of the Sagrada Família has partnered with other works, such as Casa Botines in León, the Episcopal Palace in Astorga, and El Capricho in Comillas, to hold large-scale events commemorating the centennial of Gaudí's death.

Last year, the Vatican declared Gaudí "Venerable," the step preceding beatification in the Catholic canonization process.

Beatification requires proof of a miracle, and officials are currently searching for evidence.

Gijs van Hensbergen, a Dutch architect who has written several biographies of Gaudí, told AFP, "Creating a work that everyone wants to see is the most obvious miracle. Atheists, Buddhists, people from all over the world come to Barcelona just to see this building, and that is a kind of miracle."

In 2005, UNESCO designated parts of the basilica, including the "Nativity Façade" and the crypt, which were built under Gaudí's direct supervision during his lifetime, as a World Heritage Site.

In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.