In Barcelona, the tallest tower of the Sagrada Família basilica was ceremoniously unveiled

Barcelona – Thousands of people gathered this evening in Barcelona to witness the ceremonial unveiling of the new tower of the basilica Sagrada Família, atop which a gigantic glass star was illuminated for the first time at a height of 138 meters. The Tower of Our Lady, now the tallest tower of this still unfinished temple, was blessed by the Archbishop of Barcelona and Cardinal Juan José Omella on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and Pope Francis also sent a video message for this event.

The head of the Catholic Church extended greetings to the poorest residents of Barcelona, the sick and COVID-19 patients, the elderly, and the young, and to all those experiencing difficult times. "May this star, which will shine here from today, illuminate us," declared Pope Francis in Spanish, who originates from Argentina. He also expressed the wish that the star would inspire everyday acts of love, brotherhood, and help for those in greatest need.

Before illuminating the twelve-pointed star, which weighs five and a half tons and has a diameter of 7.5 meters, Cardinal Omella celebrated a mass. The temple, a symbol of the Catalan metropolis, was described by the cardinal as one of the most beautiful in the world.

Sagrada Família is set to have a total of 18 towers. The one unveiled today, the Tower of Our Lady, will be the second tallest after the Tower of Jesus Christ, which is expected to reach 172 meters, surpassing the current tallest cathedral in the world in Ulm, Germany (161.5 meters).

Sagrada Família (Holy Family), depicting the life of Jesus Christ and biblical history, is one of the most visited monuments in Spain. In 2019, it attracted 4.5 million tourists, averaging about 12,000 per day.

Construction of the temple began in 1882, and it is still unclear when this unique architectural masterpiece will be completed in the form envisioned by architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), who dedicated over half of his life to this work. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was planned for completion in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. However, due to the pandemic, which significantly restricted tourism and thus part of the funding for the completion of this temple, this deadline will almost certainly not be met.