Sagrada Família's Tower of Jesus Christ Completed, Now the Tallest Church in the World

A Dream That Took 144 Years

The famous Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona has reached an important moment.The Tower of Jesus Christ, the 14th and tallest tower of the church, was finished in February 2026This makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world.A special ceremony will happen on 10 June 2026On this day, Pope Leo XIV will bless the new tower during a mass.This date is also 100 years after the death of the church's architect, Antoni Gaudi.

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Sagrada Familia 2026: Completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ

Planner: Derek Lane

4 days ago

Building the Tower

The last part of the tower was built over several months.The first piece of the cross at the top was put in place on twenty-seventh of October 2025The final piece was added on twentieth February 2026Now, the tower is 172.5 meters tall.This height was chosen carefully.Gaudí believed that no human building should be taller than God's creation, so the tower is one meter shorter than Montjuic Hill nearby, which is 177 meters high.

At the very top of the cross is a glass case with a sculpture called Agnes Dei.This sculpture was made by the Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito.The tower is both an engineering success and a symbol of faith.

Mateo Hernandez, the leader of the Sagrada Familia Foundation, said, We are a lucky generation.We are witnessing history, like the people who saw the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal when they were new.

Gaudí’s Work Carried on by Many

The Sagrada Familia project started in 1882 with architect Francisco de Paula del Vilar.Less than a year later, Antoni Gaudí took over and changed the design completely.He worked on it until he died in 1926Sadly, he was hit by a tram and buried inside the church he helped design.

The Spanish Civil War, 1936 to 1939 stopped the work.During the war, many of Gaudí's original plans and models were destroyed.Buildings started again in the 1950s, using photos and rebuilt models to follow Gaudí's ideas.

The Barbany family has worked on the church for many years.They are stonemasons who use both old stone-cutting skills and new digital tools.Jordi Barbany, a current family member, said, We dreamed about Gaudí many times because the work was so hard.Without talking to him, we had to understand what he wanted.

Jordi Fowley, the main architect now, leads the team.They must combine Gaudí's old ideas with today's building methods.

More Than Just Building

Mateo Hernandez said the Sagrada Familia is different from other modern buildings that try only to be the tallest or most unusual.He said, These buildings are good, but they may not last long.

The church's money now comes mostly from visitors.In 2025 almost 4.87 million people visited, paying 26 euros each.The church earned 134.5 million euros in total.About 58.4 million euros went to building costs.Before, the church depended on donations.

Work Still to Do

Even though the tower is done, the church is not finished.Inside the Tower of Jesus Christ, work continues.The next big project is the glory façade, the main entrance.Gaudí wanted this part to be the most beautiful and detailed.

Building the glory façade is difficult because it needs two blocks of houses to be removed.About 200 people live there now.The city is planning how to help these residents move.The church may be finished around 2036

A Special Blessing

On 10 June 2026 Pope Leo XIV will lead a mass to bless the Tower of Jesus Christ.This day is very special because it is 100 years since Gaudí's death.For many people who have worked on the church for years, this is both an end and a new beginning for the project.