Sagrada Família blessing draws global coverage as 'key moment' of Pope's Spain visit

The Pope's blessing of the Sagrada Família – and the spectacular light show and fireworks display which followed – has drawn widespread international coverage in the hours after the ceremony took place in Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

Major global outlets highlighted the visual spectacle and the symbolism of the event, with several leading news organisations focusing on Pope Leo XIV's description of Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished basilica as an "architectural masterpiece" made of "stone, colour and light."

Associated Press said the Sagrada Família event was "the key moment of the Pope's visit to Spain."

It included the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus, the basilica's tallest structure, and marked the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death.

Video footage of the closing light show circulated widely across social media, including on the BBC's Instagram account, where it surpassed half a million views within hours.

Italy's TG1 account, from the flagship news program of state broadcaster RAI, recorded more than one million views.

Both were topped by the Sagrada Família's official Instagram account, whose video has garnered more than 4 million views.

Global media spotlight on Barcelona ceremony

The BBC placed a video report of the event on its homepage, showing the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the Pope's visit, interior shots of the basilica, the drone display and the final fireworks show. 

Associated Press reported that Spain's royal family was among those present and described how the Pope addressed the crowd in both Catalan and Spanish.

Euronews published a video recap of the day's events, while CNN focused on the closing spectacle.

In a report, the US broadcaster noted that, according to the basilica itself, the iconic church attracts more visitors from the United States each year than from Spain.

It also published images from earlier in the week, including the Castellers de Vilafranca's human tower performance at Barcelona's Olympic Stadium.

The New York Times also covered the event, saying the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus was followed by "a spectacular light and fireworks show that drew 'oohs' and 'ahs' from the crowd." 

It also referenced ongoing controversy surrounding the basilica’s planned final façade, noting concerns among some residents about potential demolition of nearby homes.

In France, Le Monde published photographs of the fireworks display and described how the finale "bathed the unfinished basilica in shifting colours that highlighted the spires of the towers."

It also cited parts of the Pope's address, including his remark that one cannot "believe in Jesus and promote war."

German outlet Die Zeit also reported on the visit, sharing video footage of the blessing and noting the attendance of German culture minister Wolfram Weimer among those present.