San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella is a 20th-century parochial church and
titular church in southern
Rome, dedicated to
Francis Xavier.
History
San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella was built in 1931–33.
Karol Wojtyła
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
, later Pope John Paul II, ministered in the church after the
Second World War; it was the first church in Rome that he visited after being elected Pope in 1978.
Pope Paul VI also visited in 1976.
On 21 February 2001, it was made a
titular church to be held by a
cardinal-deacon.
;Cardinal-Protectors
*
Leo Scheffczyk (2001–2006)
*
Franc Rodé (2006–present); made a
cardinal-priest in 2016, title elevated to a cardinal-priesthood ''
pro hac vice''
Structure
On a
Latin cross plan, the facade is covered in brick and decorated with
travertine pilasters. The main entrance is framed by
Doric columns. On the
entablature
An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...
there is a large
lunette
A lunette (French ''lunette'', "little moon") is a half-moon shaped architectural space, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void.
A lunette may also be segmental, and the arch may be an arc take ...
, inside a circular arch. The
tympanum carries the arms of
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
.
The dome is of reinforced concrete, decorated with arched windows; it is painted in gray, in imitation of lead Baroque architecture, Baroque domes. It is surmounted by a simple roof lantern. The interior is divided into three naves, delimited by Ionic columns; the barrel vault is coffered in stucco.
The right transept has a fresco of the Madonna of Divine Love and commemorates the Bombing of Rome in World War II, 1943 bombing of San Lorenzo, Rome. The apse holds a canvas painting of
Francis Xavier preaching in Goa.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella
Titular churches
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1933
20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy
Rome Q. X Ostiense
Renaissance Revival architecture in Italy