Pope Francis has elevated the renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí to “venerable” status, bringing him closer to sainthood. The move follows a 30-year campaign to promote Gaudí’s beatification.
Gaudí dedicated his life to building the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, which remains unfinished but attracts millions of visitors each year. He spent over four decades working on the project before his death in 1926. After his passing, he was nicknamed “God’s architect” by a clergyman due to his significant contribution to the world’s most recognizable church.
The path to sainthood typically involves extensive historical research and requires two miracles attributed to the individual. Gaudí’s supporters have submitted a 2,000-page dossier supporting his case, but two miracles must be verified by the Vatican for him to be deemed a saint.
Gaudí was born in 1852 and is widely regarded as the most influential member of the “modernisme” movement in Catalonia. His unique architectural style has been recognized globally, with UNESCO describing it as an “exceptional and outstanding creative contribution to modern times.”
Following his death, Gaudí’s disciple Domènec Sugranyes took over the Sagrada Familia project, which was damaged during the Spanish Civil War but survived. Construction continued, albeit slowly, due to funding issues and delays tied to the pandemic. However, officials recently announced that the bulk of the construction will be completed by 2026, marking 100 years since Gaudí’s death.
Bullivant notes that the promotion to “venerable” status is a significant step towards sainthood and shines a spotlight on Gaudí’s body of work.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/15/antoni-gaudi-sainthood-sagrada-familia