GAUDÍ’S VISION ACHIEVES ETERNITY

Benedict XVI promulgates the Sagrada Família as a basilica and classifies it as an “architectural miracle”.

After 128 years of building work, the residents of Barcelona (and the millions of people who followed the consecration on television) were able to see the totally completed interior of the temple, which until now had been kept secret.

The Pope consecrated the temple of the Sagrada Família as a basilica. Benedict XVI called Gaudí’s work, which could at last be shown to the world in all its splendour, an “architectural miracle”, thereby ensuring its eternity.

After 128 years of building work, the residents of Barcelona (and the millions of people who followed the consecration on television) were able to see the totally completed interior of the temple, which until now had been kept secret.

"An admirable combination of technique, art and faith”, summarised the Pope, who defined Antoni Gaudí as a “fantastic architect and faithful Christian” who lived “with absolute dignity and austerity ".

Surrounding the 56 majestic columns of the Sagrada Família, 6.000 people packed the temple, in a ceremony which lasted beyond the expected: two and a half hours. The King and Queen and the President of the Generalitat Catalana received the Pontiff upon his arrival. The top brass of Catalan politics were located in the first few rows during the ceremony. At their sides, the clergy and representatives of other faiths and, behind them, civil society.

Celestial light and sound

The spectacular nature of the building provoked vertigo in more than one attendee, as in many cases galleries were fitted out in the very highest areas. The choir sang from one of these sectors, which thanks to the sonority of the temple sounded always celestial. Also of note was the light, which invaded the temple through an infinity of oculi which made artificial lighting almost unnecessary.

No-one was missing in an event which followed step by step the protocols for the consecration of the temple. Benedict XVI began by symbolically opening the doors to the main entrance, those of the Glòria, by the sculptor Subirachs. The Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona, Lluís Martínez Sistach, pronounced the first words of welcome. To follow, the water was blessed, which was then sprinkled on the walls of the temple. Catalan, Castilian and Latin followed one after another. After readings from the Gospel and the homily, the dedication prayer and liturgy were undertaken, which culminated with the reading, by Cardinal Martínez Sistach, of the promulgation of the bull of the Sagrada Familia church as a basilica. A reading which was completed with the singing of the Virolai, which the temple intoned in unison following the choir and finishing with a long applause in a very emotive moment.

Objective, to finish in 2026

After this, the Pope went outside to recite the Angelus and listen to the world-famous Escolania de Montserrat.

The objective is to completely finish the building work in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of the death of Gaudí.