This Basilica Has Been Rising Above Barcelona for 144 Years. With Its Central Tower Now Complete, Pope Leo XIV Prepares to Visit

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Sagrada Família's central tower, the tallest of the Barcelona basilica's planned spires, has reached its full height after 144 years of construction, marking a major milestone for Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece. Gaudí, who took over the project in 1883, died in 1926 knowing he would never see his ornate vision completed. The basilica's towers are designed to represent Jesus Christ and the apostles, with the central spire now standing as the structure's crowning achievement. Pope Leo XIV is preparing to visit the site to mark the occasion. The project remains ongoing, with construction crews continuing work on interior details and remaining structural elements of one of the world's most ambitious architectural undertakings.