Culture News
Sagrada Família reaches 172.5 metres as the cross tops the Tower of Jesus Christ
The final upper section of the cross on the Tower of Jesus Christ was installed at Barcelona's Sagrada Família on Friday, February 20, bringing the basilica to its full height of 172.5 metres and making it the tallest church in the world, Catalan News reports. The upper structure is complete 144 years after Antoni Gaudí laid the first stone. Installation of the cross began in late October 2025.
The four-armed cross is 17 metres tall and 13.5 metres wide, made of white ceramic and glass, and hollow, as Gaudí intended, so visitors will be able to go inside for a view over the city. The official inauguration is set for June 10, the centenary of Gaudí's death. Catalan News says the Vatican has not confirmed whether the Pope will attend.
“It is an important day, both to celebrate and to remember the people who designed the cross.” — Jordi Faulí, chief architect, via Catalan News
Vatican News gave the construction record: the upper arm measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 4.9 metres, the cross was made in Germany in 2025, and the six central towers are now externally complete, with interior work continuing through 2027 and 2028. An Agnus Dei sculpture by Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito will sit inside the upper arm. Malaysia's Bernama, carrying a dpa report, focused on money and time: the cross weighs nearly 100 tonnes, the project is funded by donations and tickets, and the site drew 4.9 million visitors in 2024, generating €134 million. A visitor platform inside the cross is expected to open in 2027.
How each outlet framed it
- Catalan News — the local milestone and the June inauguration.
- Vatican News — technical and religious details of the tower.
- Bernama (dpa) — visitor numbers, funding and how long work will go on.
What we don't know yet: When the whole basilica will be finished. Head of construction Xavier Martínez told dpa it “could be ready in about 10 years. If all goes well.”