Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday blessed the world's tallest church, as the Sagrada Familia's construction journey finally nears its end.
The Barcelona church, Spain's most visited tourist attraction with nearly 5 million visitors last year, has been under construction for 144 years. Work was completed on its tallest tower in February with the installation of a cross. The Tower of Jesus Christ now stands at 566 feet.
The pope led Mass and a blessing to mark the occasion of the end of structural work on the church, which was held on the 100th anniversary of Sagrada Familia architect Antoni Gaudi's death. Nonstructural work will still be performed, with years of renovations lying ahead.
Anarchist militants damaged the church in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, and many of Gaudi's drawings and plans were destroyed. Architects and builders have spent the last century reconstructing Gaudi's vision.