San Barnaba, Modern Catholic church in Rome, Italy.
San Barnaba is a red-brick church built in a neo-Romanesque style, with a high facade pierced by three windows and preceded by a portico on pilasters. Its basilical interior has three naves separated by pillars and arches, a trussed ceiling, and four side chapels. The apse holds a large 1966 mosaic by Igino Cupelloni.
San Barnaba was built between 1956 and 1957 to a design by Tullio Rossi and consecrated on 19 October 1957 by Monsignor Ettore Cunial, vicegerent of the Diocese of Rome. It took over the title of the medieval church of San Barnaba de Porta, which stood near Porta Maggiore and has since disappeared. The parish itself had been created on 11 October 1932 by a decree of Cardinal Vicar Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani and was entrusted to the Pavonians.
The parish was created in 1932 and entrusted to the Sons of Mary Immaculate, the Pavonians, who still serve it. The name comes from a medieval church, San Barnaba de Porta, once near Porta Maggiore and now demolished; this building took over its title. Above the four side doors hang portraits of the popes tied to its story: Pius XI, who founded the parish, Pius XII, who had the church built, and Paul VI and John Paul II, who visited.
San Barnaba sits at Via Giovanni Maggi 23 in the Prenestino-Labicano district, east of the historic centre; the nearest metro stop is Lodi on line C, a short walk away. The entrance is on the street side, under the portico with the Latin inscription. As an active parish church run by the Pavonians, it is best visited outside Mass times.
The apse mosaic by Igino Cupelloni (1966) shows Barnabas receiving graces from the Trinity, flanked by crowds among whom stand John XXIII, Paul VI, Patriarch Athenagoras, Archbishop Ramsey and Cardinal Traglia, called the "New Protagonists of the Church" — a witness to the ecumenical optimism between the end of Vatican II and 1971.
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