New Renaissance as a "Latin Mass" Community
Since 2019 this storied church has had new life, being under the care of the Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP). Thus, the Latin Mass has been given an even stronger presence in Rome, making this convenient location a go-to for the TLM near the Vatican. We hope and pray the Vicariate of Rome will make it a parish one day again, giving the ICKSP complete control to offer all the sacraments.
In the years leading up, the community had been dying out in the past decades since Vatican II. There were many corollaries: urban decay from inflation, Romans fleeing the city, plunging birth rate, secularism, and the taxonomy of Catholic identity being tampered with the in the 1960s. In the end there was an empty church that had to be filled.
People are interested in truth. The soul craves beauty. Before the ICKSP came, the basilica was only open Sunday mornings for one Mass, sparsely attended. Today it is open every day and draws a crowd for its TLM Masses, Confessions, and Benediction and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Interestingly, the basilica has not been a parish since the year1906. At that time, parish status was taken away under the reign of Pope Pius X, when it was brought under the nearby (and newly formed parish boundaries) of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
At that time, the parish status and records were transferred while the canons of the basilica remained as it was a 'collegiate' church with a canonry. In later years, it came into the care of a religious order from Spain, founded in 1890. Over time they died out leading up to 2019.
Brief History - a Roman Treasure
The basilica is located on a famous pilgrim road that has led millions of pilgrims to the Vatican. It is also the same road the popes would follow when they would venture from the Vatican for important outdoor processions and other seasonal liturgies. Newly elected popes would also travel down this street on their way to take possession of the Lateran Archbasilica.
The first mention of a church on this site dates from 1008. The next unequivocal reference dates from 1127.
In 1198 it was named a 'papal chapel.' Thus it acquired the status of a 'collegiate,' meaning it had its own canonry with canons, senior members of the local clergy. The canons were mentioned in a fourteenth century document and at the same time it served as the chapel for the procurators of the 'Audientia,' a predecessor of the body of the Apostolic Signatura.
In the late 1400s and early 1500s, the church underwent intermittent building and remodeling.
The famous Pope Julius II (1503-1513) had the old church demolished, including its famous portico, that is said to have resembled that of Santa Maria in Trastevere. The demo was part of the Pope's project to widen the street as it led to the Ponte Sant'Angelo.
Bishop Paris de Grassis, who was the Master of Ceremonies of Pope Julius II and Leo X, was named Archpriest of the Basilica and head of the Papal Office of Ceremonies. This brought great prestige and he naturally oversaw the connecting of his liturgical office with the parish.
In addition, in 1513 Biagio da Cesena was made the Archpriest here. He had been the Papal Master of Ceremonies under Popes Leo X, Adrian VI, Clement VII, and Paul III. He is best remembered as Michelangelo's strongest critic.
He was therefore depicted in an unfavorable manner by Michelangelo in his painting of Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. Specifically, he was painted as Minos in hell, in the Inferno.
Given its important location, the parish became one of the more important ones in Medieval Rome. By 1571, there was attached to the parish the Confraternity of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
A parish census in the Holy Year 1625 reveals there were 3,117 parishioners and 765 registered families.
The Present Church
Pope Clement XIII ordered the present church. On the frieze there is thus a dedicatory inscription that reads: In honorem S[ancti] M[artyres] Celsi et Iuliani, Clemens XIII Pont[ifex] M[aximus] An[no pontificis] V.
The Pope appointed the architect Carlo de Dominicis to design the beautiful Baroque gem. It was completed in 1735, a fine example of eighteenth-century Roman Baroque. The architect was a native of Rome who worked on the project from 1733-1740.
In the days of Pope Pius IX the basilica was further decorated, a project completed in 1868.
Clement XII was a member of the Corsini family from Florence, and he had a strong artistic taste. He is best remembered as the one who commissioned a new facade for St. John Lateran as well as constructing the Trevi Fountain. Clement was a great pope, who provided the first public condemnation of Freemasonry in a formal papal bull. He also paved many streets in Rome.
Because of its location at the start of the Strada Papale (papal street), the church was always a very important pilgrim destination. This is because it was a stop on the way to and from the Vatican.
Due to its size and grandeur, its importance, and the wealthy and influential patrons it had, the newly built church was given basilica status. The apartments attached to the church became home to many important clergy who worked in the Vatican, including members of the Roman Curia and Papal Court.
Although the basilica is located on a very narrow street, its beautiful two-story travertine façade can still be appreciated as a fine example of late Baroque tardobarocco architecture. Observers will notice the façade is slightly bowed, adding to its radiant Baroque style.
The single entrance is crowned with embellishments above, draped in frond palm branches and fruit sprays, with a fancy "Chi-Rho" symbol mounted in a crown. All carved of travertine limestone, greeting the visitors who enter.
The Majestic Interior
The basilica has a distinct circular floor plan, definitely influenced by Bernini. Further, it has some details that hint at the influence of Borromini.On the top of the main altar is a painting entitled 'Christ in Glory with Saints Celsius, Julian, Basilissa, and Marcionilla,' painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1736. It was commissioned by Cardinal Giuseppe Furietti and is said to be one of the most beautiful works by this painter, clearly attempting to follow the taste of Raphael, while moving forward to the neoclassical style.
On the left side of the wall is a painting entitled 'St. Julian Resuscitates a Man from the Dead,' painted by Giacomo Triga in 1736. On the right side is 'St. Celsius Wins Over Pagan Priests,' by Francesco Caccianiga, painted around the same time in the eighteenth century.
The wooden choir in the sanctuary is original to the construction of the church. At that time the pople was Clement XII and thus his coat-of-arms can be seen carved in wood. At that time there was a small canonry in residence here, a group of canons who lived in the adjoining palazzo, reflected in the ten or so seats in the choir.
The Side Chapels
The basilica boasts six side chapels, three on each side.1. The Baptism of Christ, with an altarpiece by Giuseppe Ranucci (1736). It was in this baptismal chapel (or baptistry) that the future Pope Pius XII was baptized, commemorated by the large commemorative targa, carved in Latin.
2. St. Liberius, with an altarpiece by Giuseppe Valeriani (1736). Pope Liberius is best remembered for his dream (on the night of August 5, 352 AD) and subsequent groundbreaking for the construction of Santa Maria Maggiore, the largest church in Rome dedicated to Our Lady.
3. The Madonna delle Grazie (in Latin Mater Gratiarum or in English Our Lady of Grace), a copy of the miraculous 16th century icon (the original is kept at Santa Maria della Consolazione al Foro Romano).
4. The Crucifixion, with a crucifix from the year 1450. The relics of a St. Clement are entombed in this altar. He was a martyr who was interred here after he was found at one of the catacombs on the
Via Aurelia.
Pius XII Connection
Pius XII was baptized by his uncle, who was a canon of the Vatican Basilica. He was baptized at this church because his parents were living in a rented flat within the jurisdiction of the parish (Via degli Orsini, 34). His uncle was from Onano, where the Pacelli family had roots, where they came from originally before they moved to Rome. The uncle died at age 88 in the year 1894, before Papa Pacelli was ordained priest in 1899.
Visitors who make their way to the basilica will no longer see the baptismal font where Pius XII was baptized. The font is today located at the Roman Basilica of San Pancrazio, under the care of the Carmelites. Hopefully it will one day be returned.
It is unclear why it was moved in the first place. Probably because the parish status had been revoked at Saints Celso and Giuliano and someone had the idea to preserve it as a relic at a church that still had parochial status. Maybe so that babies could once again be baptized from its waters.
In 2024 the basilica was closed for extensive renovations. Stay tuned for its expected opening possibly in autumn 2026.
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| The front prospect, one side the octagon |
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| The view of those who enter |
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| Mass in the Basilica |
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| Pilgrims and locals gather for Mass |
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| The elliptical saucer dome |
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| The parents of Pius XII |
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| The location of the former baptistry, with new portable altar |
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| The former baptistry, with new portable altar |
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| The original baptismal font |
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| The plaque with the original baptismal font |
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| The majestic ceiling in the shape of an octagon |
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| Recognition of the improvements made under Pius IX |
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| Tombs of the princely Della Valle family |
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| The chapel that served as the baptistry |
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| The altar where Masses for the dead are offered |
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| View of side altar |
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| The icon of Mater Gratiarum |
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| The main altar |
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| Side altar with added St. Joseph statue |
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| Side altar with "Holy Face" devotion |
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| The sanctuary and main altar |
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| The glorious facade |
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| The altar rail |
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| Communion rail detail |
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| The sacristy |
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| The sanctuary |
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| The main altar |
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| Mass at a side altar |
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| The magnificent facade, one side of the octagonal share |
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| A Canadian pilgrim visits the Basilica |
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| The Mass schedule |
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| Commemoration of the old baptismal chapel |
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| Front view from street |
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| Tomb of Mons. Giuseppe Pacelli, who baptized his nephew, Pius XII (at the Campo Verano) |
