The Vatican has announced that it is considering making Antoni Gaudí, the famous Catalan architect behind Barcelona’s Sagrada Família basilica, a saint. Pope Francis recognized Gaudí’s “heroic virtues” during his first official appointment after weeks of illness with life-threatening pneumonia. This declaration marks one of the initial steps in the long process towards sainthood.
Gaudí devotees have been calling for him to be named a saint for over three decades, citing how his architectural work had convinced some people to convert to Catholicism. The church began considering the request in the early 2000s and construction of the Sagrada Família started in 1882. Despite being unfinished after 140 years, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the building in 2010, praising Gaudí’s genius.
The completion date for the basilica was initially set for 2026 but was postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic. The Vatican is now one step closer to formally recognizing Gaudí as a saint, pending further evaluation and approval.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/apr/14/vatican-puts-gods-architect-antoni-gaudi-on-path-to-sainthood