Jose Manuel Almuzara: “Pope Francis spoke to me about Gaudí as a ‘great mystic'”

“Pope Francis spoke to me about Gaudí as a ‘great mystic’.”

Architect José Manuel Almuzara, promoter of the beatification cause of Antoni Gaudí, analyzes the recent changes in the management of the process. He assures that the path toward the declaration of venerable is a matter of little time, highlighting Pope Francis’s explicit support for the figure of the Servant of God.

Architect José Manuel Almuzara, the driving force behind Antoni Gaudí’s beatification process and president of his Pro Beatification Association since 1992, granted an interview to *Religion Digital*. In it, he addresses the recent changes in the management of the cause, which has transitioned from a lay association to a canonical entity. Almuzara emphasizes that this transition was “necessary at all costs,” despite the “tensions and disagreements” it generated. Thirty-two years after beginning his work, he assures that circumstances have substantially improved, as in the early days, “this was not seen as a priority” by the Church.

The path for Antoni Gaudí to be declared venerable appears to be in its final stretch. Almuzara confirms that the *Positio super vita, virtutibus et fama sanctitatis* was approved by the historical consultants last November 7. Currently, the process is in the hands of a commission of theologians who are studying the document. Following this step, only the ordinary congress of cardinals and bishops will remain, leading him to predict that the declaration of venerable is “a matter of little time.”

“I believe the path for him to be declared venerable is a matter of little time.”

The new vehicle for the cause, managed by the Archdiocese of Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia Construction Board, will allow for better dissemination of the virtues of the Servant of God. Furthermore, Almuzara highlights the role of Cardinal Juan José Omella, who is part of the C-9 (Council of Cardinals), which he considers beneficial for the process. Regarding the miracle mentioned by some sources, Almuzara clarifies that the Canonical Association will be responsible for studying and presenting it, with the hope that the beatification might coincide with the centenary of Gaudí’s death in 2026.

Almuzara emphasizes that the mission of the Pro Beatification Association has always been to make known the architect who, “through his life and work, shows us that God is the true measure of man.” Beyond the Sagrada Familia, it is essential to discover Gaudí’s virtuous life, his humility, his religious practices, and his special love for Mary, the Eucharist, and the Cross. In this regard, he reveals the closeness of Pope Francis, who on several occasions has shown interest in Gaudí, going so far as to speak of him as a “great mystic.”

“If there were no saint behind Antoni Gaudí, the Church would have already thrown in the towel.”

When asked about those who doubt the beatification, Almuzara is forceful: “If there were no saint behind Antoni Gaudí, the Church would have already thrown in the towel.” He stresses that the process has required years of firm and verified study, without external pressures. The Church does not seek to construct a personality, but rather to recognize the genuine merits of the Servant of God. The architect will be beatified for his “own merits,” offering a firm and verified vision of his figure in a religious context.

📰 Artículo original: https://www.religiondigital.org/espana/convertir-Gaudi-prior…