Architect Antoni Gaudí on path to sainthood, Pope confirms
It is the latest development in a decades-long campaign to have Gaudí, who was a devout Catholic, recognised as a saint.The Archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, called the news a "joy"."It is a recognition not only of his architectural work but something more important," he said, according to AFP news agency.The cardinal continued: "He is saying you... amid life's difficulties, amid work, amid pain, amid suffering, are destined to be saints."The usual formal process for someone to be declared a saint would next involve beatification, one step short of full sainthood.That is a category reserved for martyrs, those deemed to have lived a life of heroic values and candidates who the Church declares to have a saintly reputation. In the case of Gaudí, who died in 1926 after being hit by a tram while walking to church, the Vatican would likely require proof of a miracle that could be attributed to him post-death in order to proceed with beatification.Gaudí was born in 1852 and many of his best known works continue to attract visitors to Barcelona, where much of his legacy is situated.The Sagrada Familia basilica has been under construction since 1883 and remains unfinished.It has been placed on Unesco's World Heritage list, along with some of Gaudi's other works, and was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
West Dunbartonshire pupils celebrate exam results as 95% gain qualifications
Of almost 10,000 qualifications in West Dunabrtonshire, 95 per cent achieved at least one national qualification. West Dunbartonshire's school pupils were celebrating this week after receiving their highly-anticipated SQA exam results. More than 2,200 youngsters received their results, from National 4 and 5 to Highers and Advanced Highers. Students across all seven secondary schools in the area had been hard at work to achieve their qualifications and for many the results signals the completion of their school education, as they progress onto positive next steps, including university and college courses, apprenticeships, and full-time employment. Councillor Clare Steel, Convener of Educational Services, met with pupils to mark the occasion. She said: 'Our young people have shown incredible determination and resilience in getting to this point. The exam period can be a hugely stressful time, and each and every pupil should be proud of what they've achieved. 'Speaking with pupils today, it was inspiring to hear the range of paths they're taking — from further education to starting apprenticeships. It shows just how many exciting options are open to young people in West Dunbartonshire. I wish them all the very best as they take their next steps.' Vice Convener Councillor John Millar also praised the students, adding: 'Huge congratulations to all our pupils—your results are a credit to you and testament to your dedication and hard work. 'Whatever your results say today, know that there are many ways to reach your goals. For anyone who may not have received the outcome they hoped for, there is support available and guidance on where to go next.' For support or advice, Skills Development Scotland's Results Helpline is open from 8am on 0808 100 8000. This year, SQA supplied West Dunbartonshire with results for 9,912 qualifications. Of those, 95% achieved at least one national qualification. At Higher level, 75% of pupils received at least one pass, while 77% of those sitting Advanced Highers achieved a pass. 80% gained at least one National 5 pass and 100% achieved at least one pass at National 4 level. Notably, in a number of specialist subjects—such as Advanced Higher Art & Design, Graphic Communication, Physical Education and Spanish; Higher Health and Social Care; and National 5 courses including Accounting, Dance, Early Learning & Childcare, Energy, Health Sector, Italian, Media, Laboratory Science, Sport & Recreation and Travel and Tourism — 100% of candidates achieved a passing grade. Chief Education Officer Laura Mason commended both pupils and staff, saying: 'Our pupils should feel a real sense of pride in what they've achieved. These results reflect not just the hard work of young people, but also the dedication of our school staff and the support from families at home. 'We remain committed to helping every young person in West Dunbartonshire reach their full potential. Many of our pupils take part in wider learning opportunities beyond today's exam results, and we look forward to reflecting on their full achievements when the national Insight data is released in September.'
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
'Fabric of Cumbernauld has fallen apart after church fire'
The destruction of a Cumbernauld church in a devastating fire will have lasting repercussions for the area, locals blaze that wiped out the St Mungo's Church building on Saturday came just over a week after another fire wrecked the nearby Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre. Community groups that used the church for events have been left scrambling to find replacement were no injuries in the blaze, which took until Sunday to put out. Caroline Noble, a volunteer with Cumbernauld and Carbrain Community Hub, told BBC Scotland News she feels like the original landmarks and heritage of the North Lanarkshire new town are said: "The full fabric of Cumbernauld has just fallen apart, really. It kind of feels like there is going to be nothing left, which is sad."The 1960s church, designed by Scottish architect Alan Reiach, is a B-listed building - meaning it is classed as being of regional or local importance. The community hub, based minutes away from the church, would use the building for some bigger events or activities, including a weekly café offering free have since found an alternative site for the café, but Ms Noble believes the loss of the church - and in particular the distinctive triangular roof visible across the area's skyline - will take time to get used added: "It's such an iconic building in Cumbernauld. Everyone was talking about it because it's just such a shock."Rhona McMillan, a member of the Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir that used the church as a rehearsal space, said the news was told BBC Scotland News: " It is a huge loss to the community and our thoughts are with the congregation and ministry team. "The choir have been rehearsing there for three years every Monday night, and it was an ideal space for singing and learning Gaelic." 'Place of special memories' The St Mungo's Church building was part of Trinity Parish Church, a union formed from Cumbernauld Old Church and Kildrum and St Mungo's churches in August 2024. Any decision on what happens next with the building will partly lie with the Church of Scotland, whose moderator the Rt Rev Rosie Frew said she was shocked by the said: "As well as being the focus of much of the life, work and worship of the congregation, St Mungo's has been both an iconic landmark and a place of special memories for the people of Cumbernauld."My thoughts and prayers, and those of members of the Church of Scotland, are with the congregation and community at this difficult time."She is scheduled to visit the site Alastair Duncan, the interim moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, said the congregation had been left devastated and that the building was "cherished by many".He added: "Aside from its distinctive architecture, the B-listed building is held in great affection by the people of Cumbernauld, and its location remains a significant presence for the Church of Scotland." Online speculation has already intensified for what will happen next to the site, including calls for it to be Noble, who studied the area's heritage for her masters degree, believes the building's importance to the overall community should not be said: "I truly believe that heritage spaces are more than buildings, they are places where people's stories and memories are all held. "When the building isn't there, those stories still exist, so it has been more than just a building - not just for the church but for the whole community. "It's going to be odd not having it there."
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
Couple drowned in flash floods on Majorca hike, inquest hears
Climbing instructor and lifeguard Alexander Barrett, 32, tried to help his partner Sarah Thompson, 26, as a 'wall of water' cascaded down the canyon they were descending with a group of other hikers, Stockport Coroner's Court heard. Both were swept to their deaths, with Ms Thompson's body recovered by Spanish search and rescue teams on September 4 last year, the day after the flood. Mr Barrett's body was found on September 6 in the Torrent de Pareis canyon in the Tramuntana mountains. Ms Thompson's father, Peter Thompson, who lives in Berwick-upon-Tweed, said his daughter 'was never without a smile on her face'. She had represented Cumbria at fell running in national competitions, had a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, and had recently been promoted in the donations team at The Christie hospital in Manchester. Paul Rodman, Mr Barrett's father, said his son 'loved life' and relished the outdoors, from hiking to surfing, adding: 'He was genuinely a good person, a caring person, a kind person. 'The friends and family have developed a little saying, 'Be more like Alex' because that's what we aspire to be. 'He's missed so much by all his friends and family.' The couple, from Offerton, near Stockport, had gone on the informal trip with friends, all hiking and climbing enthusiasts, making their separate ways to Majorca. On the trip was Luke Weaver, who knew Mr Barrett as a friend and climbing instructor at Awesome Walls, an indoor climbing centre in Stockport. 'We all had a mutual passion for climbing and hiking,' he said in a statement read at the inquest. Mr Weaver, on the trip with his partner, said the hike they planned to do, which took three to four hours to complete, was well known globally and known to be 'challenging in places'. He had completed the hike before on several occasions, but neither Ms Thompson nor Mr Barrett had, but he considered it was 'well within the capabilities' of the group, he said. Mr Weaver said he was aware the gorge flooded so he checked the weather forecast on the morning of September 3 last year, which only predicted rain from 6pm, by which time they would be 'well clear'. He added: 'Had I known what was to happen, I would never have let them into the gorge.' Mr Weaver said he dropped the group of friends off for the hike and intended to catch them up after parking his car, but was delayed in heavy traffic by around two hours, before he could begin the hike himself. It had been a hot morning, but a storm had moved in and at around 2.30pm it began to drizzle with rain but Mr Weaver said this did not cause any concern as he continued the hike to meet with his partner and friends ahead of him. But a short time later it started to rain more heavily and he could hear thunder in the distance and he began to quicken his pace. He said as there was no phone signal in the gorge he could not make contact with them. As the downpour grew Mr Weaver said he spotted his friends, who were now with a German couple and two Spanish nationals, in a 'bottleneck' between two boulders. 'At this point the heavens opened,' Mr Weaver said. 'At this time the water was flowing like a small river.' Mr Weaver said he was helping the hikers through the bottleneck and he gestured to Ms Thompson if she was 'OK' and she replied yes but with a 'nervous smile'. He then heard someone shout, 'Water!' 'Seconds later a massive wall of water came down the gorge,' Mr Weaver said. 'The water appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud, people were screaming.' Mr Weaver said he could see one of the group had managed to grab on to a rock while one of the Spanish nationals had been swept into the torrent and was being carried away. His own partner managed to get out of the water and after a few minutes others emerged from the deluge, but Mr Weaver said the noise of the water was too loud to communicate with each other. 'I was shouting and screaming for the others. I could see no-one,' Mr Weaver said. Ms Thompson had been seen being swept away along with her partner, who had tried to help but the current had taken him too, the inquest heard. Later the survivors were airlifted out of the gorge by helicopter, suffering only minor injuries. Mr Weaver added: 'Everyone who survived that day is incredibly lucky, especially those who got caught in the water. 'I have never experienced anything like this and it is something I will never forget.' Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death as drowning for both the deceased. Jyoti Gill, assistant coroner for Manchester South, recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning for both Ms Thompson and Mr Barrett, whose legal name was Alexander Johnson, but was known by the name Alex Barrett. Ms Gill said the storm had caused flash flooding, sending a large torrent of water down the canyon. 'It appears water dragged Sarah, and Alex had tried to help her,' Ms Gill concluded. 'Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters,' she added.
