VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis has taken the first step toward making Antoni Gaudí, the famed architect of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, a saint.
On Monday (April 14), Pope Francis recognized the “heroic virtues” of the Catalan, sometimes referred to as “God’s Architect,” meaning he is now considered “venerable” by the Catholic Church, a first step toward canonization.
Gaudí was born in 1852 and died at the age of 73 while working on his spiritual testament, the Basilica of the Sagrada Família. The largest unfinished Catholic church in the world, the Sagrada Família, begun by Gaudí in 1882, is scheduled to be finished in 2026, on the centenary of Gaudí’s death. In 2024, more than 4.8 million people visited the soaring basilica — a mix of gothic, art nouveau and modern styles — to see its swirling spires and prismatic stained-glass windows, according to the basilica’s report.
Displaying heroic virtues in the Catholic Church means an individual lived an exemplary life, aligned to Catholic morality and striving toward holiness. In his last years, the architect was deeply influenced by his faith, which can be seen in his colorful works scattered throughout the city. He was known to sleep in the basilica’s workshop and wear humble clothing to …