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| Church of Saint Alphonsus of Liguori | |
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| 41°53′45″N12°30′01″E / 41.895815°N 12.500328°E /41.895815; 12.500328 | |
| Location | Via Merulana 26 00185Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Religious institute | Redemptorists |
| Website | saintalphonsus |
| History | |
| Status | Titular church |
| Relics held | Icon ofOur Lady of Perpetual Help |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect | George J. Wigley |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
TheChurch of Saint Alphonus of Liguori (Chiesa di Sant'Alfonso di Liguori all'Esquilino inItalian) is a rectory church located on the Via Merulana on theEsquiline Hill of centralRome's Vth prefecture,Italy, and atitular church for aCardinal-priest under the nameSantissimo Redentore e Sant'Alfonso in Via Merulana (Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and Saint Alphonse).
It is dedicated toSt. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of theCongregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), who built and staff the church.[1]
The church is one of the rare examples ofneo-Gothic architecture in Rome. It is one of the lastpapal churches of Rome, although the Redemptorists have possession of the church and its related complex.
It was built between 1855 and 1859, designed by the Scottish architectGeorge Wigley. The facade made of brick andtravertine features three doors. In the centraltympanum of the door there is a polychromemosaic, depictingOur Lady of Perpetual Help. The facade is further embellished by arose window.
The interior decorations, rich with marble, from the end of the nineteenth century, are by the Bavarian painter and RedemptoristMax Schmalzl (1850-1930). Theapse is crowned by amosaic, put in place in 1964, depicting theRedeemer enthroned between theVirgin Mary andSaint Joseph. Below the mosaic hangs the original icon ofOur Lady of Perpetual Help, which was produced inCrete in the 14th century. This icon was claimed to have been stolen fromKeras Kardiotissas Monastery[2] in 1498 and given to the Redemptorists byPope Pius IX in 1866. The shrine received a papal visit fromPope John Paul II on 30 June 1991.
Saint John XXIII named St. Alphonsus aCardinal Titular Church on 30 December 1960 asSS. Redentore e S. Alfonso in Via Merulana (Most Holy Redeemer and St. Alphonsus on Via Merulana).[3] The following cardinals have served asCardinal priests:
Joseph Elmer Ritter, (1961.01.19 – 1967.06.10), while Metropolitan Archbishop ofSaint Louis (1946.07.20 – 1967.06.10)
José Clemente Maurer, C.Ss.R. (1967.06.29 – 1990.06.27), while Metropolitan Archbishop ofSucre (Bolivia) (1951.10.27 – 1983.11.30), President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (1968 – 1979)Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, (1991.06.28 – 2012.01.31), while Metropolitan Archbishop ofPhiladelphia (USA) (1988.02.11 – 2003.07.15)
Vincent Nichols, (2014.02.22 – ...), while Metropolitan Archbishop ofWestminster (London, England, UK) (2009.04.03 – ...), President of Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (2009.04.30 – ...)
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