Pope's Sagrada Família blessing ceremony to gather 8,000 people

Around 8,000 people will attend the Pope's visit to the Sagrada Família on June 10.

Some 4,000 people will gather inside the Sagrada Família for a mass led by Pope Leo XIV, while another 4,000 people will gather outside for the blessing and inauguration ceremony of the Tower of Jesus Christ, also presided over by the Pope. 

Details of the Pope’s visit, marking the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death, were presented on Thursday by Xavier Martínez, general director of the Sagrada Família, during a press conference in the Crossing Room, 80 metres above street level inside the Tower of Jesus Christ.

Around half of the congregation will be made up by members of the public, via invitations sent to parishes in Barcelona – 1,200 for inside and 3,000 for outside.

Confirmed dignitaries include the King and Queen of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Catalan President Salvador Illa, as well as around 250 bishops and cardinals.

The event is part of the Gaudí Year celebrations, which began in October 2025 and will continue until December of this year.

Pope Leo XIV will make a two-day visit to Catalonia, taking in various events in Barcelona as well other locations such as the Monastery of Montserrat and Brians prison.

Big screens

Martínez clarified that two separate spaces will be set up for the occasion: one inside with a capacity for 4,000 people, and another outside with the same capacity, bringing the total to 8,000 attendees.

Screens will be installed in both areas so that attendees can follow the parts they cannot see directly.

The event will be broadcast by Catalonia's 3Cat, Spain's TVE and Barcelona's Betevé, as well as via online streaming.

Around 1,600 accredited media professionals are expected.