The first part of a massive cross that will sit atop the Tower of Jesus Christ on Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica was placed Oct. 30, a significant step toward both the tower and the basilica’s completion.
According to the basilica, the tower is the tallest structure on the building, rising above five other central towers dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the four Evangelists. The lower part of the cross measures 7.25 meters long (roughly 24 feet) and weighs nearly 53,000 pounds. The finished cross will measure about 56 feet, setting the height of the completed tower at about 566 feet.
Catalan News reported that the installation of the section of the cross makes Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world, just barely surpassing Ulm Minster in Ulm, Germany. The basilica is also the tallest building in Barcelona’s urban area, a record the basilica achieved in September.
According to the basilica, the cross is covered in white glazed ceramic and glass, materials chosen to withstand the elements and make the cross shine in the sun. The lower part of the cross had arrived at the work site in four pieces in July 2024 and was later assembled on a work platform more than 175 feet above the ground. The section begins in a square shape at the base but twists itself into an octagon at the top.
The tower is expected to be completed in June 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the renowned architect who started work on the basilica in 1883, the year after the cornerstone was laid. Called “God’s architect,” Pope Francis declared Gaudí venerable in April 2025, CatholicVote previously reported.
As CatholicVote also reported, Sagrada Família is also commemorating Gaudí’s death with a series of events between October 2026 and June 2027. According to Catalan News, Catalan president Salvador Illa met with Pope Leo at the beginning of October to invite him to the inauguration of the tower in June.
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