Pope Leo Is Blessing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. To Some, the Church Is a Curse.

The pontiff will offer a Mass in Antoni Gaudí’s iconic, unfinished basilica during his Spain trip. But for some Barcelona residents, completing the construction could mean knocking down their homes.

By Jason Horowitz

Faithful line streets as Pope Leo to bless Sagrada Família on centenary of Gaudí’s death

As completion of 144-year construction nears, questions swirl over resemblance of church to architect’s original plans Ten hours before he was due to pass by, the faithful were already picking their spots along the route Pope Leo XIV will take on his brief journey to bless Antoni Gaudí’s iconic church the Sagrada Família. It’s been a long wait but this evening, 144 years after work began, the pope will bless the basilica’s recently completed central tower in the presence of members of the Spa...

By Stephen Burgen in Barcelona

Pope Leo to lead 'incredible' mass at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia

Pope Leo was set to visit Barcelona's Sagrada Familia on Wednesday to inaugurate the newest of its soaring geometric spires ​that makes ‌the modernist marvel designed by Antoni Gaudi the world's tallest church. Leo, after celebrating Mass ⁠inside the vast church, will walk outside to bless the 172.5-metre Tower of Jesus Christ, crowned with a five-storey ceramic cross ‌visible across the Catalan capital. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris reports from Barcelona.

By FRANCE24

Ahead of World Cup kickoff, pope says life is 'played as a team'

Addressing World Cup fans ahead of the start of the tournament, Pope Leo on Wednesday said life, like football, should be "played as a team".The US-born pope told reporters on the flight to Spain that he would "certainly support" his country at the World Cup which starts on Thursday.

Pope to bless Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, world's tallest church

Pope Leo XIV will bless the giant new tower of the famed Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona on Wednesday and celebrate mass inside what is now the world's tallest church. The church is a still-unfinished modernist masterpiece by architect Antoni Gaudi that was visited by nearly five million people last year. The pope's visit during a week-long trip to Spain coincides with the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death on June 10, 1926. The devout Catholic, whose cause for sainthood is advancing in th

By The Korea Herald

President to attend inauguration of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia tower

President Nikos Christodoulides is flying to Barcelona on Wednesday to attend the inauguration of one of the towers of the Sagrada Familia, a still unfinished Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction of the church began in 1882 and the main structure and central towers were scheduled for completion in 2026 to coincide […]

Pope Leo to celebrate mass at Barcelona's unfinished Sagrada Familia

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate mass at Barcelona's Sagrada Família on Wednesday and bless its final tower, marking the completion of Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece and making it the tallest church in the world. The pontiff arrived in Spain at the weekend for a week-long visit focused on immigration and politics.

By RFI

Pope says 'let us lay down our armour and unmask violence'

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 10 - Pope Leo XIV said on a visit to an abbey near Barcelona on his week-long Spanish visit Wednesday that the world should lay down its armour and unmask violence. "Let us lay down the armor that has gradually hardened our hearts, he said, noting that Jesus "wears no armor" and on the cross "he abandoned himself to save us with the unarmed and disarming strength of love." Speaking at the Abbey of Montserrat, Leo said Christ "invites us to embark on the path of mercy, recon...

By ANSA

Pope Leo XIV Jokes That Bad Bunny Might Steal His Spotlight in Spain

His Holiness playfully acknowledged the Puerto Rican artist's immense star power during his recent trip.

By Isabela Raygoza

Bad Bunny and Pope Leo XIV hold private meeting in Madrid

“If they are confronted with the question do they want to see Bad Bunny or do they want to see the Pope, I think many will see Bad Bunny,” the pontiff said of young people in the city The post Bad Bunny and Pope Leo XIV hold private meeting in Madrid appeared first on NME.

By Laura Molloy