Pope Leo will tap into the Sagrada Familia’s allure while honoring Catalonia’s holy mountain

A view of the Basilica of Montserrat at the Monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)2026-06-09T05:07:18Z BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV will bridge 1,000 years of church history Wednesday, visiting a medieval monastery on a mountaintop that local Catholics consider sacred and then celebrating Mass at Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia Basilica.Montserrat, a healthy drive from the city followed by a steep ascent, is dear to many of the Catalan people in northeastern Spain. Annually, 2 million people travel to the complex that includes an 11th-century Benedictine abbey as well as a 16th-century basilica. Its Black Madonna statue, which studies show originally was white but turned dark by centuries of smoke and incense before being painted black, is widely revered.But for many Catholics watching from afar — and especially non-Catholics — the highlight of the Chicago-born pope’s seven-day trip to Spain will be his evening Mass at the Sagrada Familia — the Basilica of the Holy Family — commemorating the centennial of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí. Leo will speak almost exclusively Spanish on the trip, with some comments in Catalan. The visit illustrates his balancing act of upholding centuries-old religious traditions in a country where faith is waning while reaching a global audience from a basilica that is more a magnet for tourists than believers. Yet the two sites share a connection even some locals don’t know. A view of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city in June. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A view of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city in June. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Read More A pulpit for the worldThe Sagrada Familia fuses the universal language of nature — trees, birds, reptiles, cornucopias of fruit — with scenes from Christ’s life. Beyond that unique aesthetic, its allure stems from allowing visitors to bear witness to a great church’s ongoing construction.That began 144 years ago, with the first cornerstone laid in 1882 during the pontificate of Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII.Its claim to “the new” is what sets Gaudí’s masterpiece apart from Europe’s other cathedrals and why it has captivated millions. Leo’s Mass is an opportunity to link him with this breathtaking place of worship. “Its stones and stained glass speak of the possibility of conjuring up 2,000 years of Christian history from a modern and even postmodern view,” Ferran Sáez, professor of humanities at Barcelona’s University of Ramón Llull, told The Associated Press. “It is a building that expresses very complex ideas while coming across as comprehensible for anyone who is receptive, whether they are Christian or not.” Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The Sagrada Familia is an international sensation, featuring on virtually any self-respecting globetrotter’s bucket list. Foreigners account for 90% of its visitors, whose entrance fees fund its construction, and more Americans visit than Spaniards, according to the basilica.While there aren’t statistics on visitors’ average age, it is hugely popular among adolescents and twentysomethings. That’s in stark contrast to the graying parishioners at most Spanish churches at a moment the Catholic Church strives to engage with and remain relevant to youth. The basilica’s latest superlative — world’s tallest church, with its recently raised Tower of Jesus Christ — has made it an even greater beacon. Visitors take photos inside the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city in June. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Visitors take photos inside the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city in June. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Catalans see Montserrat as a spiritual homeThe Sagrada Familia is a global pulpit, but it’s set in a country where Christianity is receding. Spain underwent a religious crisis in the late 20th century during its return to democracy. Just over half of Spaniards polled by the state opinion agency in 2

A view of the Basilica of Montserrat at the Monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)2026-06-09T05:07:18Z BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV will bridge 1,000 years of church history Wednesday, visiting a medieval monastery on a mountaintop that local Catholics consider sacred and then celebrating Mass at Barcelona’s…

A view of the Basilica of Montserrat at the Monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)2026-06-09T05:07:18Z BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV will bridge 1,000 years of church history Wednesday, visiting a medieval monastery on a mountaintop that local Catholics consider sacred and then celebrating Mass at Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia Basilica.Montserrat, a healthy drive from the city followed by a steep ascent, is dear to many of the Catalan people in northeastern Spain. Annually, 2 million people…