A spectacular light show commemorating the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
Barcelona woke up that Wednesday knowing that something extraordinary was about to happen. And as night fell, before thousands of people gathered around the Sagrada Família, Pope Leo XIV blessed the Tower of Jesus Christ — 172.5 metres crowned by a 17-metre cross — making the temple designed by Antoni Gaudí the tallest church in the world. A date that also coincided exactly with the centenary of the architect’s death: 10 June 1926.
For those of us who love this city, it was a truly unforgettable evening.
Gaudí: the architect of God
Antoni Gaudí was a profoundly devout man. His faith was not ornamental: it permeated every line, every curve and every symbol of his work, inspired by nature itself, which he described as God’s own creation. So much so that when designing the Sagrada Família, he made a decision that speaks volumes about his spirit: the temple was not to exceed the height of Montjuïc, the mountain that overlooks Barcelona. No human work, he believed, should rise above the creation of God.
That is why the Tower of Jesus Christ, at 172.5 metres, stops just below that mark. A gesture of humility that, one hundred years after his death, remains one of the most moving details of the entire basilica.
A light show for the history books
The evening culminated in a drone display that lit up the Barcelona sky in a way those fortunate enough to witness it will find hard to forget. Projected onto the façade of the temple and into the air was Gaudí’s face alongside one of his most celebrated phrases: “Primer l’amor, després la tècnica” — first love, then technique — along with a simple “Thank you.” A deeply moving image, worthy of the occasion.
During the blessing, Pope Leo XIV alternated between Catalan and Spanish, as a gesture of recognition of the city’s identity. The ceremony brought together thousands of citizens and visitors, along with civil and religious authorities, all united around a truly unforgettable moment in history.
Gaudí, one hundred years on
The centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death has been the defining thread of this extraordinary day. The architect passed away on 10 June 1926, struck by a tram near the very temple to which he had dedicated the final years of his life. One hundred years later, Barcelona pays tribute to him in the most moving way imaginable: by completing his most ambitious and most personal work.
A Barcelona that welcomes and moves you
During his two-day visit, Pope Leo XIV journeyed through some of the city’s most significant places: the Cathedral of Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia in the Barri Gòtic, the Abbey of Montserrat, the church of Sant Agustí in the Raval — where he met with social welfare organisations — and the Brians 1 prison, in a quiet and profoundly human gesture. An itinerary that revealed a Barcelona that is open, diverse and committed to those who need it most.
The vigil held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Montjuïc brought together tens of thousands of young people the night before, filling the city with a festive and meaningful atmosphere.
Living Barcelona from the heart of the city
At Hotel Continental Barcelona, on La Rambla, and Hotel Continental Palacete, on Rambla de Catalunya, we have followed these days with the emotion of those who truly love this city. Our location, right in the heart of Barcelona, allows us to experience first-hand every one of the moments that make it unique: its traditions, its history, its one-of-a-kind architecture and its great encounters with the world.
If you are planning to visit Barcelona in the coming months, we invite you to discover a renewed Sagrada Família, with its tallest tower now blessed and inaugurated. And to do so, if you wish, from the finest starting point: the centre of a city that knows how to welcome, move and surprise you.
