La Mostra    Urban Space and Worship    Celebrations and Ceremonies

View of the Papal Palace at Quirinale with the Loggia of the Benedictions

Popes gave countless extraordinary Holy Year blessings from the loggias of the patriarchal basilicas or apostolic palaces such as the Quirinal, which was a papal residence from the late sixteenth century onwards. Deseine’s engraving clearly shows the loggia built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini on the main façade, which was inaugurated in 1639.

Vue du Palais du Pape dans le Quirinal dit Monte Cavallo de deux côtez,in: François Jacques Deseine, Rome moderne, premiére ville de l’Europe, avec toutes ses magnificences et ses delices..., vol. III, Leiden 1713

Easter blessing Urbi er orbi from the external loggia of St. Peter's during the Jubilee of 1933

The Easter blessing from St. Peter's loggia is one of the solemn annual blessings conferred by the pontiff.

Felici (papal photogr.), La memorabile Pasqua dell'Anno Santo della redenzione: il Santo Padre nell'atto di benedire "urbi et orbi" dalla loggia esterna della Basilica Vaticana, in: L'osservatore romano, a. LXXIII, n. 95, 22 April 1933

Blessing from St. John's in Lateran loggia for the Ascension during the Jubilee of 1933

The Ascension blessing from St. John's in Lateran loggia is one of the solemn annual blessings conferred by the pontiff.

Sciamanna (photog.), Una cerimonia religiosa ripresa dopo una sospensione di 63 anni: la benedizione papale dalla loggia dell'arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano nel giorno dell'ascensione, Roma 25 maggio, in: L'illustrazione italiana, a. LX, n. 23, 4 June 1933

The Eucharistic triumph in the centenary of Redemption

Il trionfo eucaristico nel centenario della redenzione, in: Pio XI: monumenti e opere, Città del Vaticano 1936

The Eucharistic triumph in the centenary of Redemption

Il trionfo eucaristico nel centenario della redenzione, in: Pio XI: monumenti e opere, Città del Vaticano 1936

Vicar cardinal Marcantonio Colonnna notifies to the faithful the plenary indulgence granted by pope Pius VI to who will attend to the opening of the Holy doors of four patriarchal basilicas on 26 February 1775

Vicariato di Roma, Apertura delle porte sante: indulgenza plenaria a chi v'assiste,(23 February 1775), Roma 1775

Notification of 1st July 1825, signed by vicar cardinal Placido Zurla, about the exposure of the relics in Roman churches and the concession of the indulgence for who will visit them

Vicariato di Roma, Notificazione (1° July 1825), Roma 1825

Ostension of the relics in St. Peter's

Alphonse de Neuville, Ostension des grandes reliques. Dessin de A. de Neuville d'après M. B. Ulmann, in: Le Tour du monde. Nouveau journal des voyages publié sous la direction de m. Édouard Charton et illustré par nos plus célèbres artistes, vol. XV, 1867

The Canonization of Bernardino of Siena

The first major canonization celebrated during a Jubilee was that of Franciscan friar Bernardino of Siena in 1450, on the day of Pentecost, along with the General Chapter of Friars Minor at the monastery of Ara Coeli. Friars from the Order came to Rome from all over Europe for the celebration. Another friar, Giovanni da Capestrano, was sainted in 1690

Bonaventura de' Rossi, La vita di Nicolao V papa..., Milano 1716

The canonization of Bernardino da Siena

The first major canonization celebrated during a Jubilee was that of Franciscan friar Bernardino of Siena in 1450, on the day of Pentecost, along with the General Chapter of Friars Minor at the monastery of Ara Coeli. Friars from the Order came to Rome from all over Europe for the celebration. Another friar, Giovanni da Capestrano, was sainted in 1690

Felice Alessio, Storia di San Bernardino da Siena e del suo tempo, Mondovì 1899

St. Bernardino Albizzeschi painted by Sano di Pietro in Palazzo della Signoria in Siena

S. Bernardino Albizzeschi dipinto da Sano di Pietro nel Palazzo della Signoria in Siena, in: Felice Alessio, Storia di San Bernardino da Siena e del suo tempo, Mondovì 1899

History of canonizations of the Holy Year 1925

During XX century Holy years there were several beatifications and canonizations. In 1900 there were six beatifications and two canonizations, the ones of St. John Baptist de la Salle and of St. Rita from Cascia. In 1925 is recorded, among the others, the one of St. Teresa from Lisieux.

Giovanni Minozzi, I santi dell'anno santo, Roma-Milano 1927

The first canonization of the Holy Year 1925

During XX century Holy years there were several beatifications and canonizations. The first saint canonized in 1925 was St. Teresa from Lisieux.

Felici (papal photog.), La prima canonizzazione dell'anno santo 17 maggio: S. s. Pio XI proclama la canonizzazione di suor Teresa del bambino Gesù nella Basilica di San Pietro alla presenza di 40.000 persone, in: L'illustrazione italiana, a. LII, n. 21, 24 May 1925

Basilica of St. Peter's lighted for a canonization during the Jubilee of 1925

During XX century Holy years there were several beatifications and canonizations.

Addobbo interno della Basilica di S. Pietro per una canonizzazione, in: Cronistoria dell'anno santo MCMXXV. Appunti storici, dati statistici, atti ufficiali, con appendice storico-bibliografica a cura della Segreteria generale del Comitato centrale, Roma 1928

The canonization of Giovanni Bosco during the Extraordinary Holy Year 1933

During XX century Holy years there were several beatifications and canonizations. In 1933 were canonized, among the others, Giovanni Bosco and the French André-Hubert Fournet.

Giovanni Della Cioppa, Come si fanno i santi (Causa di S. Giovanni Bosco). Beatificazioni e canonizzazioni dell'anno santo straordinario della redenzione 1933-1934, Roma 1934

For the canonization of André-Hubert Fournet (1933) the dome and the façade of the basilica of St. Peter are lighted up

During XX century Holy years there were several beatifications and canonizations. In 1933 were canonized, among the others, Giovanni Bosco and the French André-Hubert Fournet.

Il sommo Pontefice nello splendore del sacro rito papale proclama Santo il sacerdote di Cristo Andrea Uberto Fournet, in: L'osservatore romano, a. LXXIII, n. 132, 5-6 June 1933

Archduke Maximilian of Haubsburg-Lorraine, in Rome for the Jubilee of 1775, looks at the amazing lighting of dome, façade, colonnade and spire of St. Peter and watches the fireworks called the Girandole of Castel Sant'Angelo, on the occasion of the feast of St, Peter and Paul

Ragguaglio o sia giornale della venuta, e permanenza in Roma di sua altezza reale l'arciduca Massimiliano d'Austria... accaduta li 28 giugno 1775, Roma 1775

The Girandole of Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's enlighted

The illumination of Saint Peter’s dome and façade, and fireworks set off from Castel Sant’Angelo, were must-see spectacles that Romans and visitors admired from the private terraces of noble palazzos or from the highest observation points around town.

F. F. Payne (draw.), William Bridge Cooke (engr.), The castle and bridge of St. Angelo, Rome, with the grand display of fireworks from the summit of the castle and the illumination of St. Peters, in: Rome and its surrounding scenery. Engraved by W. B. Cooke... with descriptive sketches by H. Noel Humphreys Esq., London 1845

The Girandole of Castel Sant'Angelo

The illumination of Saint Peter’s dome and façade, and fireworks set off from Castel Sant’Angelo, were must-see spectacles that Romans and visitors admired from the private terraces of noble palazzos or from the highest observation points around town.

Giacomo Lauro, Castrum S. Angeli,in: Id., Antiquae Urbis splendor,Roma 1641

The Girandole of Catsel Sant'Angelo

The illumination of Saint Peter’s dome and façade, and fireworks set off from Castel Sant’Angelo, were must-see spectacles that Romans and visitors admired from the private terraces of noble palazzos or from the highest observation points around town.

Jean Louis Desprez (draw.), Francesco Piranesi (engr.), Fuoco artificiale detto la Girandola, che s'incendia sul Castel S. Angelo già Mausoleo di Elio Adriano (ca 1790), Paris 1836

The Girandole of Castel Sant'Angelo from the arcade of Palazzo Rossi

The illumination of Saint Peter’s dome and façade, and fireworks set off from Castel Sant’Angelo, were must-see spectacles that Romans and visitors admired from the private terraces of noble palazzos or from the highest observation points around town.

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, La Girandola osservata dalla loggia del palazzo Rossi, in: Id., Degli edificj antichi e moderni di Roma: vedute in contorno disegnate e incise da Gio. Batt. Cipriani, vol. II, Roma 1817

The illuminations of St. Peter's for the Jubilee of 1925

Ugo Ojetti, La luminaria a San Pietro. Roma 17 maggio, in: Id., Cose viste, vol. III (1924-1925), Milano 1926

Preparations for the lighting of St. Peter's dome during the Jubilee of 1925

Armando Bruni (photog.), L'illuminazione della Basilica di San Pietro: un ardito sampietrino accende le fiaccole poste sulla croce che sovrasta la palla alla sommità della cupola a 139 metri di altezza, in: L'illustrazione italiana, a. LII, n. 21, 24 May 1925

Preparations for the lighting of St. Peter's dome during the Jubilee of 1925

Armando Bruni (photog.), I preparativi per l'illuminazione della Basilica di San Pietro: i "sampietrini" scendono in cordata lungo i costoni della cupola per l'accensione dei lanternoni e delle torce, in: L'illustrazione italiana, a. LII, n. 21, 24 May 1925

Preparations for the lighting of St. Peter's dome during the Jubilee of 1925

Armando Bruni (photog.), I preparativi per l'illuminazione della Basilica di San Pietro: la copertura della cupola animata dagli uomini che salgono e scendono per le sovrastrutture ad accendere i lumi, in: L'illustrazione italiana, a. LII, n. 21, 24 May 1925

Lux mundi

Michelangelo’s dome, which Pius XI had illuminated by torchlight on special occasions (the dome would be visibly far more imposing after the Borgo “spine” was demolished) is a symbol of the light that Christianity has brought to Earth.

Lux mundi, in: Pio XI: monumenti e opere, Città del Vaticano 1936

Lux mundi

Michelangelo’s dome, which Pius XI had illuminated by torchlight on special occasions (the dome would be visibly far more imposing after the Borgo “spine” was demolished) is a symbol of the light that Christianity has brought to Earth.

Lux mundi, in: Pio XI: monumenti e opere, Città del Vaticano 1936

Piazza Navona lake

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Piazza Navona, in: Id., Vedute principali e più interessanti di Roma, Roma 1799

Piazza Navona lake

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Obelisco egizio in piazza Navona, in: Id., Degli edificj antichi e moderni di Roma: vedute in contorno disegnate e incise da Gio. Batt. Cipriani, vol. II, Roma 1817

Piazza Navona lake

Gaetano Cottafavi (engr.), [Veduta di Piazza Navona],in: Antonio Nibby, Roma nell’anno MDCCCXXXVIII..., vol. IV (Parte seconda moderna), Roma 1841