Pope Leo at the Sagrada Família underscores need to work for peace

Pope Leo XIV began his visit to the Sagrada Família by praying before the Blessed Sacrament and visiting the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, whose vision shaped the Basilica into a monumental expression of Christian faith through architecture, light, color, and symbolism. Celebrating Mass on the centenary of Gaudí’s death and the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Pope reflected on the Gospel’s call to faith and stressed that authentic belief in Christ is incompatible with violence, indifference, and neglect of those who suffer.In his homily, delivered in Catalan and Spanish, he recalled a passage from the Gospel of John: “you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He.” He noted that these are strong words, but also an invitation to salvation. He stressed that you cannot believe in Jesus and wage war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, who weep, who flee from poverty.