It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. At the time of his death in , less than a quarter of the project was complete. Advancements in technologies such as computer-aided design and computerised numerical control CNC have since enabled faster progress and construction passed the midpoint in Though sometimes [ when?
After a visit to the Vatican in , Bocabella returned from Italy with the intention of building a church inspired by the basilica at Loreto. The apse crypt of the church, funded by donations, was begun 19 March , on the festival of St. Joseph, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar , whose plan was for a Gothic revival church of a standard form.
The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the plans that were burned in a fire as well as on modern adaptations. Armengol began introducing computers into the design and construction process in the s.
The central nave vaulting was completed in and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. Computer-aided design technology has allowed stone to be shaped off-site by a CNC milling machine, whereas in the 20th century the stone was carved by hand.
The tunnel's construction, which began on 26 March , was controversial. The main nave was covered and an organ installed in mid, allowing the still-unfinished building to be used for liturgies. Starting on 9 July , an international mass is celebrated at the basilica every Sunday and holy day of obligation , at 9 a. Occasionally, Mass is celebrated at other times, where attendance requires an invitation.
