Pope Leo XIV warned people smugglers on Friday that they will face God's wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants, demanding they stop and repent during his final day in this epicenter of the African migration route to Europe.

Leo called Gaudí's unfinished temple, one of the world's most visited monuments, a "sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain," an ongoing building project like the lifelong journey all Christians make to find God.

As completion of 144-year basilica nears, questions swirl over resemblance of church to architect’s original plans

It has been a long wait but 144 years after work began, Pope Leo XIV has blessed the recently completed central tower of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família church in the presence of members of the Spanish royal family, the prime minister and hundreds of bishops.

With the completion of the Jesus Christ tower, the tallest of 18 in the temple, the basilica has reached its full height of 172.5 metres. It is now not only the world’s tallest church but Barcelona’s tallest building. It was consecrated in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.

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© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

Pontiff appeals in Catalan for harmony on Barcelona leg of Spain tour after making football foes in city

To the delight of many, Pope Leo XIV kicked off the Barcelona leg of his week-long visit to Spain with a few words in Catalan, calling on the faithful who had gathered in the city’s cathedral on Tuesday “to build harmony and communion beyond all polarisation”.

The pontiff’s familiar and commendable plea for people to set aside their differences may, however, have come a little late. Three days earlier, while chatting to journalists on the flight to Spain, Leo had made an awkward confession.

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© Photograph: Simone Risoluti/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Simone Risoluti/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Simone Risoluti/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP/Getty Images

Spain's lawmakers have given Pope Leo XIV a lengthy standing ovation after his historic address to parliament. This marks a new level of acceptance of the Catholic Church in largely secular Spain.

Leo told Spanish bishops the entire church community should have an "ever more determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care."

Addressing lawmakers, Leo XIV also highlights migration at a time when Madrid is bucking European trends

Pope Leo XIV has used an address to the Spanish parliament to warn the world is undergoing “a deep spiritual and cultural crisis” and to urge the international community to tackle the causes and consequences of what he termed “the tragic drama of migration”.

In a wide-ranging speech delivered to lawmakers in Madrid, the pontiff also touched on conflict, artificial intelligence, the climate emergency, and the issues of abortion and euthanasia.

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© Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters

© Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters

© Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters

Pope Leo XIV urged Spaniards on Saturday to stop "fanning the flames of polarization" as he arrived in Spain at a moment of political turmoil for the Socialist-led government and a credibility crisis for the Catholic Church.

The Pope's sweeping manifesto calls for the robust regulation of artificial intelligence, warning in his 42,300-word encyclical letter that 'technology is not simply a tool.'

The Pope's sweeping manifesto calls for the robust regulation of artificial intelligence, warning in his 42,300-word encyclical letter that 'technology is not simply a tool.'