Almuzara on Radio María: the Christian soul of Antoni Gaudí
“Gaudí considered himself an instrument in God's creation, placing his gifts at the service of the Creator and of his fellow men”
Radio María España spoke with José Manuel Almuzara about the faith that sustained the whole of Antoni Gaudí's work. The interview arrives in the centenary year of the architect's death and coincides with the publication of his book «Gaudí, el arquitecto del alma» (Gaudí, the Architect of the Soul).
On Radio María España, José Manuel Almuzara —architect, Gaudí scholar and co-founder of the Association for the Beatification of Antoni Gaudí— shared a conversation about the architect's life and work. The interview, released as a podcast on radiomaria.es under the title «Entrevista a José Manuel Almuzara», falls within the centenary of Gaudí's death (1926-2026). It also coincides with the appearance of his book «Gaudí, el arquitecto del alma. Las enseñanzas espirituales de un genio» (Roca Editorial, 2026). The encounter addressed both his work and the depth of his Christian faith.
The heart of the conversation was the spiritual dimension that runs through the whole of Gaudí's career. Almuzara stressed that the architect did not regard his talent as a possession of his own, but as a gift he had received. From that awareness, every project became a form of service to God and to his neighbour. This outlook, he explained, is the key to understanding the entirety of his legacy.
“Gaudí is on the path to sainthood: from Servant of God he has become Venerable, the step before being declared Blessed, for which a miracle must be recognised”
The Association for the Beatification of Antoni Gaudí, which Almuzara co-founded in 1992 and led until 2023, has for decades promoted the Church's recognition of the architect. Its work has consisted in documenting Gaudí's life and Christian witness. In the interview, Almuzara recalled that the Church has valued not only his artistic genius, but also the coherence of his life. That twofold recognition —of the artist and of the believer— is, for him, inseparable.
The cause has reached a decisive milestone. In April 2025, Gaudí was declared Venerable, a step that recognises the heroic nature of his virtues. Almuzara explained that this advance places the architect one rung closer to the altars. The next requirement is the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession, a matter the Vatican is currently examining.
“The Vatican has certified that Gaudí was not only a brilliant architect, but also a consistent Christian, in a life of love and sacrifice”
A hundred years after his death, the figure of Gaudí still speaks to believers and non-believers alike. With «Gaudí, el arquitecto del alma», Almuzara invites us to read his work as an itinerary of faith carved in stone. The Radio María interview thus adds to a moment of special attention towards the architect. His message calls us to rediscover, in the beauty of his creations, the mark of a life given over to the Creator and to his fellow men.
📰 Artículo original: https://radiomaria.es/podcast/entrevista-a-jose-manuel-almuz…