Barcelona's Sagrada Família completes Jesus tower as city delays Glory façade work

Pope Leo XIV led a solemn mass in Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, celebrating the inauguration of the newly completed Tower of Jesus. The pontiff praised the basilica as a “Bible of stone” and highlighted the unfinished nature of Gaudí’s masterpiece, noting that the temple will be completed in God’s time.

Meanwhile, the Barcelona City Council has postponed a decision on the construction of the Glory façade and its access stairway. The municipal authorities say the project, which would require demolition of nearby buildings and affect about 400 households, still lacks a final urban‑planning approval. Negotiations between the Sagrada Família construction board and local residents have been ongoing since 2011, with recent visits by Mayor Jaume Collboni but no firm timetable announced.