Gaudí in the Project of Sanctity: 2026, the Year of Beatification?

““Gaudí’s works attract and radically impact people; he is not just a genius but a man of faith, just like Saint Teresa.””

The centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death in 2026 could bring not only the completion of the Sagrada Família’s tallest tower but also the architect’s long-awaited beatification. José Manuel Almuzara, promoter of the cause, has dedicated over three decades to demonstrating the sanctity of this tutelary figure of Barcelona.

José Manuel Almuzara, president of the Canonical Association for the Beatification of Gaudí, has been fighting for 34 years for the Vatican’s recognition of the architect’s sanctity. Almuzara, who defines himself as having been born “one hundred years after Gaudí,” distributes a small card featuring Gaudí’s image and the inscription “L’architecte de Dieu,” which was the first printed devotional tool at the start of this “crazy adventure.” This spiritual and artistic effort, initiated in 1992, seeks to convince the Church of Gaudí’s exceptional faith.

The cause for beatification is based on the conviction that Gaudí’s work, especially the Sagrada Família, is a testament to his profound faith. Almuzara and his colleagues in the association believe that the architect’s creations “attract and radically impact people” because they are the result of a “man of faith.” The building is viewed as a manifestation of Gaudí’s desire to reproduce the wonders of Creation, paying homage to the Garden of Eden and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

““It is the first devotional tool we had printed at the beginning of our crazy adventure.””

The year 2026 is symbolically crucial, as it marks the centenary of Gaudí’s death and the anticipated inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest structure of the Sagrada Família. The beatification process has already advanced significantly: in 2024, Pope Francis declared Gaudí “venerable,” an important step on the path to sanctity. Cardinal Joan Josep Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona, has expressed his wish for the beatification to coincide with these festivities.

Currently, the Vatican is analyzing a possible miracle that, if authenticated, would allow for Antoni Gaudí’s beatification. This involves the case of a child in Aachen, Germany, who suffered from an incurable illness and was allegedly cured after his father, an architect, prayed for Gaudí’s intercession. According to the rules, a panel of independent scientists must study the medical file and declare the healing inexplicable.

““For an artist like him to become a saint, that would be wonderful; it would help us see that sanctity is for everyone!””

For the faithful promoting the cause, such as José Manuel Almuzara, the fact that Gaudí, an artist, could be elevated to the altars would be a powerful message that sanctity is within everyone’s reach. The architect, who died after being struck by a tram and was not immediately recognized by authorities due to his humble attire, demonstrated the virtue of charity during his life—a trait that Cardinal Omella emphasizes as proof of his sanctity.