Sacro Cuore di Maria
| Basilica Minore del Sacro Cuore di Maria Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (English) Sacri Cordis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis ad forum Euclidis (Latin) |
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| Basic information | |
| Location |
 Rome, Italy
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| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Lazio |
| Province | Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Year consecrated | 1936 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Titular church |
| Leadership | Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, SJ |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Armando Brasini |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 1923 |
| Completed | 1952 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 81 |
| Width | 57 |
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Immaculate Heart of Mary), is a titular church in Piazza Euclide, Rome. It was built by the architect Armando Brasini (1879–1965). Its construction began in 1923 with the design of a Greek cross inscribed in a circle with an articulated facade, and completed before 1936, the year in which it was made a parish church and granted to the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary, usually known as the Claretian Missionaries. A grand dome was planned, but never realized; a smaller drum was completed in 1951.
In the baptistery there are modern paintings by the Armenian Gregorio Sciltian (1900–1985).
Pope John XXIII elevated it to the rank of Minor Basilica in May 1959, and Pope Paul VI made it a titular church in February 1965, with Ángel Herrera Oria as the first titular. The present titular priest is Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja S.J., appointed in 1994.
The construction of this church was entrusted by the Claretian Missionaries to the architect Armando Brasini after the transfer of land from the Holy See towards this purpose was accepted by their General Chapter in 1922. The foundation stone was laid in the month of July 1924. On October 21st, 1934 the crypt was open for worship and the thanksgiving liturgy for the beatification of Saint Anthony Mary Claret was celebrated. On May 9, 1936 the new parish dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was inaugurated. The official opening of the church was done in the presence of the Cardinal Clemente Micara on December 7, 1952. In 1953 the Cardinal Clemente Micara celebrated in this church the Consecration of Rome to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In March 1959 the church was consecrated as a Minor Basilica. Finally, during the advent season of the year 1965 the Basilica was declared "Titolo Cardinalizio”. It was, and remains, the largest church, after the four great basilicas of Rome. Whoever looks at the plan of the church will be able to observe that the naves in the form of crosses are circumscribed by a hoop that forms like an aureole. It lacks the large dome foreseen in the project.
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Wikipedia