Guillermo Simón Castellví, academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia, member of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology and of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, and collaborator of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ), shares with the academic community the photo galleries he published in the digital newspaper El Debate on 4 May and 5 July, both set in Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, a basilica to which the amateur photographer has devoted special attention. On the occasion of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to inaugurate the tower of Jesus Christ in the basilica, coinciding with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí‘s death, Simón Castellví was the official photographer of the Archdiocese of Barcelona for this very special occasion.
Blessing of the tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. Photograph by Guillermo Simón Castellví
The READ collaborator had already shared with the academic community the recent photo galleries he devoted to the beginning of the installation of the cross crowning the basilica, the completion of the assembly of its arms, the tenth Eucharist of the “Feel the Cross” cycle and the unveiling of the great cross that has made the church the tallest in Christendom. On this occasion, the photographer illustrates the articles “Barcelona celebrates the ordination of three new deacons: ‘God has fallen in love with you’” and “Unpublished images: Leo XIV’s blessing of the Sagrada Familia seen by its official photographers”, both written by journalist Guillermo Altarriba, with his snapshots.
In the first article, Simón Castellví captures in his work the diaconal ordination of three young seminarians: Luis Jaureguízar, Armand Kammang and Peter Kibiru, who received the first degree of holy orders. “The ceremony brought together some 1,800 people and was presided over by the archbishop, Cardinal Juan José Omella. Auxiliary bishops David Abadías and Javier Vilanova also took part, as did numerous priests, including the rector of the Sagrada Familia, Josep Maria Turull, and the rector of the seminary, Salvador Bacardit,” Altarriba explains in the text accompanying the images. In his homily, Cardinal Omella recalled that the diaconate dates back to the very beginnings of the Church and is already mentioned in the “Acts of the Apostles.”
In the photo gallery devoted to the papal visit, the Royal Academy collaborator, for his part, offered a complete report on both the moving service and the blessing of the tower crowning the Sagrada Familia and the most significant moments of Leo XIV’s visit to Catalonia. “10 June began with a visit to Brians 1 prison, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires. There he met with the inmates, reminding them that God’s love is always greater than however much good or evil we may have done, and that mistakes in life do not determine a person’s identity. ‘God loves you as you are, but dreams of you as better,’ the Holy Father urged those present,” Altarriba recalled of the beginning of the pontiff’s visit, which culminated in the spectacular inauguration of the tower of Jesus Christ.
“Once again, the Sagrada Familia made Gaudí’s dream come true, 144 years after the laying of the first stone. The architect left his intention clearly written: ‘The cross will be made of glass; by day, it will reflect the sunlight and, at night, by means of powerful spotlights, it will project beams of light over the city’,” the publication concludes, making express reference to Gaudí’s written wish regarding the great cross crowning his principal work, to which he devoted the final years of his life and where his own tomb is located.
