Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, the world's tallest church, now reaches a height of 172,5m

With the placement of the last piece on the cross of its central tower, Barcelona's Sagrada Familia now stands at 172,5 meters, establishing itself as the tallest church in the world, even though the monument designed by Antoni Gaudí more than 140 years ago is still far from finished.

Hundreds of tourists and curious onlookers gathered Friday morning to watch the maneuvers of the huge yellow crane to place the piece, 17 meters high and 13,5 meters wide, on top of the Jesus Christ tower, the tallest of the 18 planned, with workers suspended in harnesses assisting the operation.

The top of the basilica, which is already the tallest building in the city, is located slightly below the Montjuïc hill, which rises to 177 meters, in accordance with the instructions of its creator, a devout Catholic, who did not want to exceed what he considered to be God's work.

It has taken the record for the world's tallest church from Ulm Cathedral in Germany.

But scaffolding still surrounds the tower. It will be gradually removed for the tower's blessing, scheduled for June 10, which coincides with the centenary of Gaudí's death.

Pope Leo XIV is even expected to attend the ceremony, although he has not yet confirmed his attendance.

The laying of the cross represents a major step forward in the construction of Spain's most visited paid monument (4,8 million tickets sold in 2024), a project that has seen many ups and downs since Antoni Gaudí took over the project in 1883.

After the pandemic - which forced the abandonment of plans to complete the building in 2026 - the building council, a private canonical foundation, refuses to set a new definitive completion date.

Sources close to the basilica, however, believe that the main works could be completed within about ten years.

These projects depend on the absence of further setbacks affecting the flow of visitors, the main source of funding for the work, and on the resolution of disputes surrounding the construction of the controversial access points to the Glory façade, the main entrance which has yet to be built.

According to the project put forward by the builders, the facade must be preceded by a grand monumental staircase and a square, the realization of which would involve the demolition of several residential buildings, which the local residents oppose.

The conflict will have to be arbitrated by the city council which, in the midst of a housing crisis in the city, assures that there will be no agreement that does not guarantee relocation solutions for the residents.