Gods Architect Antoni Gaudi

Art World
Vatican Brings ‘God’s Architect’ Antoni Gaud; One Step Closer to Sainthood
A decades-long campaign to see the visionary become a saint nears its goal.

a large cathedral like building with tower and spires against a blue sky, there is some scaffolding at the top of the building and a crane
A view of La Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain on January 28, 2025. The construction of Barcelona's iconic Basilica of La Sagrada Familia, which began in 1882, is nearing its end. Photo: Umut Can Karahasanoglu/ Anadolu via Getty Images.
by
Jo Lawson-Tancred
April 15, 2025
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He designed the most famous modernist place of worship and his frequent use of religious imagery has seen him dubbed “God’s architect,” but is Antoni Gaud; worthy of becoming a saint? Best known for his magnificent basilica, the Sagrada Fam;lia in Barcelona, the Catalan visionary has just been recognized for his “heroic virtues” by Pope Francis.

Gaud;’s basilica, begun in 1882 and still in the process of being completed, the fantastical outdoor Park G;ell (1900–14), and the spectacular Casa Batll; (1904–06) are among Barcelona’s best loved tourist attractions. The architect was passionately devout, and his Sagrada Fam;lia is adorned with religious figures and biblical scenes, including an epic nativity on the east facade.

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When it was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, he described Gaud; as “a practicing Christian who kept the torch of his faith alight to the end of his life.” The architect died aged 73 after being hit by a tram in 1929.

The pontiff’s official declaration of Gaud; as “Venerable,” the title for those with “heroic virtues,” is the second step in the four-step process towards canonization, or being officially recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. The third step is to be beatified, which requires a verifiable miracle be attributed to the potential saint. This would suggest that they had made it into heaven and were able to intercede with God on the behalf of a praying person. This complex process can take decades.

a black and white old photograph of a man with a bear wearing an overcoat
Portrait of Antoni Gaud;. Photo: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images.

An association of advocates of Gaud; have been calling for him to be made a saint since the 1990s. Their case was first considered by the church in 2003. Two decades later, in 2023, Barcelona’s archbishop Cardinal Juan Jose Omella joined the cause, putting the case once more to the Vatican.

On Monday, Omella celebrated Gaud;’s rise to “venerable” status, delivering a statement by video in which he said “it was a joy to receive the news.” This recognition allowed us to appreciate not only Gaud;’s great talents as an architect, but also “that he is a man who was good.”

Over the years, the association backing Gaud;’s beatification have been collecting testimonies in support of the cause. One woman in support of the cause even claimed that a prayer to the architect resulted in vision miraculously returning to one of her eyes that had previously been diagnosed with a perforated retina. Others say the awe-inspiring scale and splendor of the Sagrada Fam;lia has had a hand in converting visitors to Catholicism.


Perhaps it is unsurprising that Pope Francis responded to these campaigners’ call. Last year, he made headlines as the first pontiff to visit the Venice Biennale, where he gave a stirring speech about the importance of art in addressing societal ills and declared “the world needs artists.” In December, he invited a group of Palestinian artists to create a nativity scene for the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

It is undeniable that Gaud;’s uniquely wacky architectural constructions continue to excite new audiences. However, it remains to be seen whether he has what it takes to join the ranks of history’s most virtuous artists, including Dominican friar and Italian Renaissance painter Fra Angelico, 12th-century German composer Hildegard of Bingen, and St. Luke, patron saint of painters.