(March 06, 2010) The news of Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Barcelona and Santiago de
Compostela in November "fills the Church in Spain with joy," say the nation's bishops.
The Episcopal conference of Spain expressed jubilation Wednesday after Cardinal Lluís
Martínez Sistach of Barcelona and Archbishop Julián Barrio of Santiago de Compostela
announced that Pope Benedict XVI would visit the two cities this November. The Pontiff
will visit Santiago de Compostela on November 6 for the Jacobeo Holy Year, and go
to Barcelona the next day to consecrate that city's Church of the Holy Family. The
holy year in Santiago de Compostela celebrates St. James the Apostle, who is the patron
of Spain. The apostle's tomb is located in the city's cathedral. The Church of the
Holy Family, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is a religious monument that has been declared
patrimony of humanity. Construction on the church began in 1882. While the structure
is expected to be completed in 2026, a portion of the building's interior is set to
be opened this September. According to Cardinal Martínez Sistach it is "the most
important church, for its artistic significance, which has been built in the world."
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office and Vatican
Radio, told reporters that the consecration of the altar of the Church of the Holy
Family is "a significant act which also shows appreciation for the figure and art
of this architect whose process of beatification is under way." He also referred
to Santiago de Compostela as a "centre of great European significance." The November
trip will be Benedict XVI's second to Spain, after the 2006 World Meeting of Families
he attended in Valencia. He is scheduled to visit Spain for a third time in August
2011 for World Youth Day in Madrid.