Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re
Encyclopedia
Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re is a Roman Catholic church (minor basilica) in Rome, designed between the 1920s and 1930s by Marcello Piacentini
.
) came from Ottavio Gasparri, member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus religious order. At first the church should be named Tempio della Pace, to remember and honour the fallen of World War I
. The construction began in May 1920, the first project proposed by Marcello Piacentini
was inspired by the churches built in Rome in the 16th century.
The construction halted with the death of Ottavio Gasparri, in 1929. In the next two years Piacentini worked for radical changes, following the emerging Rationalism
that became Italian rationalism
, and the Sacro Cuore di Gesù became the braeking point of the sacred architecture in the Rome context.
The construction started again in 1931 and the church was inaugurated in 1934.
The church was named parish by pope Pius XI
on October 31st, 1926 with the apostolic constitution
Regis pacifici. On February 5th, 1965 was appointed titular church by Pope Paul VI
with the apostolic constitution Sacrum Cardinalium Collegium. Later that year, with the motu proprio
Recentioris architecturae was elected minor basilica
.
. The floor plan, with a nave
flanked byt two aisle
s, is between a Latin cross
and greek cross, with a length of about 70 m. The church present a dome
of 20 meters of diameter.
Over the main portal an high relief by Arturo Martini
, that depicts the sacred heart of Jesus
. In the inside the Stations of the Cross
made by Alfredo Biagini.
Marcello Piacentini
Marcello Piacentini was an Italian architect and urban theorist.-Biography:Born in Rome, he was the son of architect Pio Piacentini...
.
History
The idea for a new church in the new district of Della Vittoria (literally Of Victory, after the victory in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
) came from Ottavio Gasparri, member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus religious order. At first the church should be named Tempio della Pace, to remember and honour the fallen of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The construction began in May 1920, the first project proposed by Marcello Piacentini
Marcello Piacentini
Marcello Piacentini was an Italian architect and urban theorist.-Biography:Born in Rome, he was the son of architect Pio Piacentini...
was inspired by the churches built in Rome in the 16th century.
The construction halted with the death of Ottavio Gasparri, in 1929. In the next two years Piacentini worked for radical changes, following the emerging Rationalism
Rationalism (architecture)
The intellectual principles of rationalism are based on architectural theory. Vitruvius had already established in his work De Architectura that architecture is a science that can be comprehended rationally. This formulation was taken up and further developed in the architectural treatises of the...
that became Italian rationalism
Fascist architecture
Rationalist-Fascist architecture was an Italian architectural style developed during the fascism regime and in particular starting from the late 1920s. It was promoted and practiced initially by the Gruppo 7 group, whose architects included Luigi Figini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Gino...
, and the Sacro Cuore di Gesù became the braeking point of the sacred architecture in the Rome context.
The construction started again in 1931 and the church was inaugurated in 1934.
The church was named parish by pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
on October 31st, 1926 with the apostolic constitution
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...
Regis pacifici. On February 5th, 1965 was appointed titular church by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
with the apostolic constitution Sacrum Cardinalium Collegium. Later that year, with the motu proprio
Motu proprio
A motu proprio is a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him....
Recentioris architecturae was elected minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
.
Design
The church has a bricks facing, the facade with brik rows of different projection alternated; facade upper side, portals and windows are boarded with travertineTravertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
. The floor plan, with a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
flanked byt two aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s, is between a Latin cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
and greek cross, with a length of about 70 m. The church present a dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
of 20 meters of diameter.
Over the main portal an high relief by Arturo Martini
Arturo Martini
Arturo Martini was a leading Italian sculptor between World War I and II. He moved between a very vigorous classicism and modernism. He was associated with public sculpture in fascist Italy, but later renounced his medium altogether.-Futurism:Martini seems to have been an active supporter of the...
, that depicts the sacred heart of Jesus
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
. In the inside the Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
made by Alfredo Biagini.