Later this month, Pope Leo XIV will visit Barcelona’s famed Sagrada Familia to inaugurate and bless the Tower of Jesus Christ, the final tower of the long-gestating church. The tower was completed in February, wrapping up 144 years of construction on the notoriously complex and intricate design. The famed church was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi, a pioneer of Art Nouveau and modernisme, or Catalan Modernism. Construction on La Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, considered his masterpiece, started in 1882. When Gaudi died in 1926, at the age of 73, only one tower was completed. Work has continued on the monument in century since, with it becoming one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe. A record 4.87 million people visited the church in 2025, with ticket sales generating over $150 million in revenue. Related Articles The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for June 10, exactly one hundred years from Gaudi’s death. The Pope will bless the church in mass, set to be attended by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez. In an interview with the …