‘God’s architect’ moves closer to sainthood: Pope declares Antoni Gaudí Venerable
The Catholic Herald• April 15, 2025
Pope Francis has declared 19th-century architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Venerable, a crucial step on the path to canonisation.
In an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Pope recognised the heroic virtue of Gaudí, who lived from 1852 to 1926.
According to the Sagrada Familia Basilica website, a person’s heroic virtue is determined after the Vatican examines “the consistent, joyful practice of the theological and moral virtues for a significant period of their life.”
The basilica states that Rev. Manel Trens i Ribas, the first director of the basilica, called Gaudí “God’s architect” because he believed Gaudí’s work directed people to God through beauty.
It also states that “Gaudí, moved by God’s grace, aimed to create a work that would be ‘a Bible in stone’, Catechism open to all.” In fact, Gaudí’s approach to modern architecture was unprecedented and “broke all the established rules,” the basilica states. He devoted more than 40 years to designing the basilica.
Gaudí is thought to have been born in Reus, Catalonia. At a young age, he had a talent for workshop artistry but suffered from delicate health. Consequently, he spent a lot of time contemplating nature and God as the Creator. Later on, his approach to architectural design followed patterns in nature.
He studied architecture in Barcelona and went on to design works including the Bellesguard Tower, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló, among others, but the most important was the Basilica.
According to Vatican News, when he took on the mantle of designing the basilica, “His focus was making art a hymn of praise to the Lord and he considered it his mission to make God known and bring people closer to Him.”
His life abruptly ended in 1926 after he was hit by a tram and his funeral was attended by approximately 30,000 people.
The basilica is expected to be completed in 2026, a century after his death. Once completed, it will become the tallest Catholic church in the world.
In the same meeting this week, the Pope also recognised a miracle attributed to Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin; the martyrdom of Fr. Nazareno Lanciotti; and the heroic virtues of Antoni Gaudí, Fr. Peter Joseph Triest, Fr. Angelo Bughetti, and Fr. Agostino Cozzolino.
Pope Francis authorised the promulgation of the Decrees concerning these six people—moving them each one step on the path to sainthood.