Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV began his visit to the Sagrada Família by praying before the Blessed Sacrament and visiting the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, whose vision shaped the Basilica into a monumental expression of Christian faith through architecture, light, color, and symbolism. Celebrating Mass on the centenary of Gaudí’s death and the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Pope reflected on the Gospel’s call to faith and stressed that authentic belief in Christ is incompatible with violence, indifference, and neglect of those who suffer.
In his homily, delivered in Catalan and Spanish, he recalled a passage from the Gospel of John: “you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He.” He noted that these are strong words, but also an invitation to salvation. He stressed that you cannot believe in Jesus and wage war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, who weep, who flee from poverty.
Read the full text of the Pope’s homily
Greeting King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who welcomed him alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as well as political and ecclesiastical authorities, Pope Leo stressed that the Basilica of the Sagrada Família opens its doors like outstretched arms, inviting everyone to this altar, to listen to the Word of God, which makes us a family beloved by the Lord and nourished by His very life in the Eucharist.
Addressing civil and religious leaders, he described the Basilica as a sign of unity that gathers people around God’s Word and the Eucharist. Drawing on its architecture, he compared the Church to a living structure built from many stones, with Christ as its foundation and goal. The ongoing construction of the Basilica, he said, symbolizes the Christian life as a work continually being completed by God, inviting believers to cooperate in His plan.
The Pope highlighted the spiritual meaning of the Basilica’s design, noting that its façades and the newly blessed Tower of Jesus Christ point to the Cross as a sign of redemption, hope, and divine love. The illuminated cross atop the tower serves as a visible witness to faith and a beacon for the city. He emphasized that art plays a unique role in expressing faith, praising Gaudí for creating a spiritual journey that leads visitors to encounter Christ.
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo thanked those who have supported the construction of the Sagrada Família and described the Basilica as an architectural masterpiece and a powerful instrument of evangelization. He urged the faithful not only to raise their eyes toward Christ but also to uplift those who are marginalized and suffering, allowing the Basilica’s message of hope and charity to guide Christian life and witness. – Vatican News
