| Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Sacro Cuore di Gesù al Castro Pretorio(in Italian) Sacratissimi Cordis Iesu ad Castrum Praetorium(in Latin) | |
 Facade | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| 41°54′10″N12°30′9.5″E / 41.90278°N 12.502639°E /41.90278; 12.502639 | |
| Location | Via Marsala 42,Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Roman Rite |
| Religious institute | Salesians |
| Website | basilicadelsacrocuore |
| History | |
| Status |
|
| Dedication | Sacred Heart |
| Consecrated | 1887 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Francesco Vespignani[1] |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Renaissance Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1879 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 70 metres (230 ft) |
| Width | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Nave width | 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Clergy | |
| Cardinal protector | Giuseppe Versaldi |
Sacro Cuore di Gesù al Castro Pretorio (English:Sacred Heart of Jesus at thePraetorian Barracks) is aCatholic parish andtitular church inRome, Italy, the mother church of theSalesian Order.
The church was originally planned byPope Pius IX, the land being bought by him along the via di Porta San Lorenzo, now via Marsala. His intention was to dedicate the church toSaint Joseph, who the Pope had declaredPatron of the Universal Church on 8 December 1870. In 1871 however, he decided to dedicate the church to theSacred Heart of Jesus. Construction work began underPope Leo XIII, who named as architect Francesco Vespignani.Conte Vespignani (1842–1899) was theArchitetto dei Sacri Palazzi of Leo XIII,[2] and also built theCollege of Sant'Anselmo on theAventine Hill.[1] However, the work came to a halt for lack of funds. At this point, the pope entrusted the work toDon Bosco (St. John Bosco). With the pope's permission, Bosco bought an additional 0.55 ha (1.4 acres) of land to construct aboarding school for poor boys, and also a two floor building at the corner of via di Porta San Lorenzo and via Marghera that would serve as a residence for the Salesians. Bosco managed to collect the funds necessary for the construction of the church by appealing to the Catholic world and by making personal journeys to France and to Spain, despite failing health. The church was consecrated on 14 May 1887.[3]
Thecampanile (bell tower) was planned by Vespignani, but remained incomplete until 1931, when the imposing statue of the Sacred Heart, donated by Salesian past pupils in Argentina, was placed on it.[4]
Dedicated to the Sacred Heart, the church is served by theSalesian fathers and brothers. It used to have an adjoiningtrade school with ahostel.[when?] At the death of Bosco, only the church and the building on via Marsala had been completed. Under his successorDon Michele Rua, the wings on via Marghera and via Magenta were constructed. When the trade school closed down, its place was taken by a middle school,gymnasium, andliceo classico. It later became the provincial house of the Salesian province (first the IRO and later the ICC) and the offices of the CNOS (Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane).[5] Since 2017, it is the seat of the central government of the Salesian Congregation. The complex hosts also a significant work for young migrants, volunteers and university students, along with a hostel for young people managed by the Salesians and theMissionarie di Cristo Risorto.
The church was elevated to the status of aminor basilica in 1921.[6]
The Church of Sacro Cuore was established as a Deaconry on 5 February 1965 by Pope Paul VI, in anticipation of his creating twenty-seven new cardinals on 28 February 1965.[7]
.jpg)
Media related toSacro Cuore di Gesù (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re | Landmarks of Rome Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio | Succeeded by San Sebastiano fuori le mura |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
