{"id":188028,"date":"2026-07-15T09:26:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T09:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raed.academy\/?p=188028"},"modified":"2026-07-15T09:31:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T09:31:38","slug":"unpublished-images-of-leon-xivs-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raed.academy\/en\/unpublished-images-of-leon-xivs-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Unpublished images of Le\u00f3n XIV\u2019s visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Guillermo Sim\u00f3n Castellv\u00ed<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia<\/strong>, member of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology<\/strong> and of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations<\/strong>, and collaborator of the Royal European Academy of Doctors<\/strong> (READ), shares with the academic community the photo galleries he published in the digital newspaper El Debate<\/strong> on 4 May and 5 July, both set in Barcelona\u2019s Sagrada Familia, a basilica to which the amateur photographer has devoted special attention. On the occasion of Pope Leo<\/strong> XIV’s<\/strong> visit to inaugurate the tower of Jesus<\/strong> Christ<\/strong> in the basilica, coinciding with the centenary of Antoni<\/strong> Gaud\u00ed<\/strong>‘s death, Sim\u00f3n Castellv\u00ed was the official photographer of the Archdiocese of Barcelona<\/strong> for this very special occasion.<\/p>\n

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Blessing of the tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. Photograph by Guillermo Sim\u00f3n Castellv\u00ed<\/p><\/div>\n

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 \u201cFeel the Cross\u201d<\/strong> 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 \u201cBarcelona<\/strong> celebrates<\/strong> the<\/strong> ordination<\/strong> of<\/strong> three<\/strong> new<\/strong> deacons:<\/strong> \u2018God<\/strong> has<\/strong> fallen<\/strong> in<\/strong> love<\/strong> with<\/strong> you\u2019\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cUnpublished<\/strong> images:<\/strong> Leo<\/strong> XIV\u2019s<\/strong> blessing<\/strong> of<\/strong> the<\/strong> Sagrada Familia seen by its official photographers\u201d<\/strong>, both written by journalist Guillermo Altarriba, with his snapshots<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the first article, Sim\u00f3n Castellv\u00ed captures in his work the diaconal ordination of three young seminarians: Luis Jauregu\u00edzar<\/strong>, Armand Kammang<\/strong> and Peter Kibiru<\/strong>, who received the first degree of holy orders. \u201cThe ceremony brought together some 1,800 people and was presided over by the archbishop, Cardinal Juan Jos\u00e9 Omella. Auxiliary bishops David Abad\u00edas 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,\u201d<\/strong> 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 \u201cActs of the Apostles.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s visit to Catalonia. \u201c10 June began with a visit to Brians 1 prison, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires. There he met with the inmates, reminding them that God\u2019s love is always greater than however much good or evil we may have done, and that mistakes in life do not determine a person\u2019s identity. \u2018God loves you as you are, but dreams of you as better,\u2019 the Holy Father urged those present,\u201d<\/strong> Altarriba recalled of the beginning of the pontiff\u2019s visit, which culminated in the spectacular inauguration of the tower of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce again, the Sagrada Familia made Gaud\u00ed\u2019s dream come true, 144 years after the laying of the first stone. The architect left his intention clearly written: \u2018The 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\u2019,\u201d<\/strong> the publication concludes, making express reference to Gaud\u00ed\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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