Church of Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta, Catholic church in Prima Porta, Italy
Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta consists of two adjoining churches in the Prima Porta area of Rome. The older church, on Via di Villa Livia, dates from the 12th century and leans against the remains of a Roman gate that gave the neighbourhood its name; its interior was redone in exposed reinforced concrete. The newer church, on Piazza Saxa Rubra, was built in the 20th century by engineer Giorgio Pacini and serves as the weekday chapel.
Pope John Paul II established this church as a cardinal deaconry in 1994, making Cardinal Gilberto Agustoni its first cardinal deacon. This designation marked its formal recognition as an important church within Rome's ecclesiastical structure.
Since 2005 the parish has been entrusted to the Pauline Fathers. The older church, on Via di Villa Livia, now serves as the weekday chapel of the new church on Piazza Saxa Rubra, and the parish holds the cardinal deaconry title erected by John Paul II on 26 November 1994.
This is an active religious community rather than a tourist destination, with daily study and formation taking place at the monastery. Visitors should be mindful that the space functions as a working seminary and respect the schedule of community life.
The older church is built against the remains of a Roman gate, the Porta Prima, which gave its name to the whole Prima Porta district. Its facade carries two plaques placed by Pius X in 1912 to mark Constantine's victory over Maxentius in 312.
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