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Pope Leo XIV attends mass marking completion of Sagrada Familia’s Jesus Tower

The main tower of the iconic church, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is completed as the Pontiff delivers a message on faith and conflict.

Author
Adrian Cole
Political Correspondent
Published
Draft
Source: NHK News Japan · original
サグラダ・ファミリア教会 「イエスの塔」完成記念のミサ
Barcelona basilica reaches 170-metre milestone

A mass was held at the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, to commemorate the completion of its main tower, known as the Jesus Tower. The structure stands at over 170 metres in height, marking a significant structural milestone for the site designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Pope Leo XIV attended the ceremony to mark the occasion. During the service, the Pontiff addressed the congregation, stating, "While believing in Jesus, to promote war..." The full context of the address was not fully detailed in the initial reports, with the source text ending mid-sentence regarding the relationship between faith and conflict.

The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for more than a century and is widely regarded as an unfinished masterpiece. The completion of the Jesus Tower represents a major step in the long-term development of the basilica, which continues to draw global attention for its architectural significance and historical duration.

The event took place on 11 June 2026, according to source metadata. The presence of Pope Leo XIV and the specific date indicate a future-dated or hypothetical scenario relative to the current real-world timeline, where Pope Francis is the reigning pontiff and Leo XIV has not been elected.

The ceremony underscores the ongoing cultural and religious importance of the Barcelona landmark, which remains a focal point for both architectural study and spiritual observance despite its prolonged construction period.

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