Cyprus president to attend Sagrada Familia tower inauguration in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain. President Nikos Christodoulides will travel to Barcelona on Wednesday to attend the inauguration of one of the towers of the Sagrada Familia, the unfinished Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudi. He has been invited in his capacity as head of Cyprus’ presidency of the European Council.

Sagrada Familia ceremony

Construction of the church began in 1882, and the main structure and central towers had been scheduled for completion in 2026 to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death. However, the full church is now not expected to be completed before 2034.

Later on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the ceremony and bless the completed 172.5-metre Tower of Jesus Christ.

Special visual tribute

The inauguration will conclude with a show created for the occasion, illuminating the Tower of Jesus Christ and the sky over Barcelona in a visual tribute to Gaudi’s creativity and vision.

Picasso museum visit

On Thursday, Christodoulides will visit the Picasso museum, which is hosting the exhibition “Picasso and Cyprus: Encounters with the Ceramics of the Mediterranean,” organised as part of the cultural programme of Cyprus’ EU presidency.