In the heartland of the Catholic Church, a new Mormon temple is now open for business. The Rome Temple has been 10 years in the making.
Image: Reuters/R. Casilli
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On Sunday, the city of Rome is playing host to a major religious celebration — but not one taking place in Vatican City. The Rome Temple, the largest complex for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — also know as the LDS or Mormon Church in Europe — was officially dedicated after over 10 years of construction.
Far away from the crowds in St. Peter's Square, nestled just at the edge of the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the ring highway that encircles metropolitan Rome, the compound boasts a 3,716-square-meter (40,000-square-foot) church, visitors' center and a family history center (one of the many genealogy research centers funded by the LDS Church around the globe).
Raimondo Castellani, the head of public affairs for the Italian branch of the LDS church, said having the Mormon place of worship in Rome was highly significant.
"Rome is the world center of Christianity. It's the city where the apostles Peter and Paul preached and were martyred ... how could we not have a temple here?" he asks.
In keeping with the location
Castellani said that while the Rome Temple was not in itself the largest Mormon temple in Europe, the complex was the largest such on the continent when all its buildings were taken into account. The compound is organized around a central plaza, meant to pay tribute to the traditional architecture of its home city. Centuries-old Roman olive trees had been replanted in the square in homage to the city, he said.
He said the ceremony to open the temple would be "very simple.": "Hymns and speeches precede the dedicatory prayer, with a profound spiritual significance for the members of the church."
Rome: City of religious pluralism
Although Rome is most famously the home of the Catholic Church, it has long been a place of religious pluralism. The Mosque of Rome is the biggest in the European Union, and the city has the largest Jewish population in Italy. Rome also hosts the largest church for Jehovah's Witnesses, or a Kingdom Hall as they are called, on the continent. Indeed, Italy is home to the biggest Witness community in Europe, by a wide margin.
After the dedication, no non-Mormons will be allowed inside the templeImage: Imago/epd/R. Sicilliani
It is therefore unsurprising that tens of thousands of people took advantage of a two-week open house at the beginning of February to visit the site that had been in the making since 2008. After the dedication, no non-Mormons will be allowed to enter the temple itself.
Elena, a 30-something NGO worker who saw the grounds, said: "Everyone was really kind. I guess the church itself isn't really my style, but it was really interesting to talk with people of a different faith."
Italy's history with the LDS Church goes all the way back to the movement's founding, when two missionaries first arrived in Italy in 1850. They made dozens of converts, but the church in Italy petered out quickly once all of the new LDS members had emigrated to the United States. For a long time, Italian law banned them from proselytizing.
Mormonism would not take permanent hold in Italy until about 2,000 American LDS military personnel were stationed there during World War II. Today, there are nearly 26,000 church members throughout the country.
Portugal, which has the second-largest population of Mormons in Europe after Spain, will be the next country to get its own palatial temple, which is set to open in September. Germany is home to the continent's third-biggest population, with some 40,000 LDS Church members.
Tips for a short trip to Rome
DW reporter Elisabeth Yorck von Wartenburg lived in Rome for six months. The "Eternal City" is so packed with treasures it's impossible to discover them all at once! Here are her tips for a short trip.
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Highlights first
There is so much to see in Rome even half a year is not enough to discover everything. So what to do when you only have three days? First, of course, visit the highlights.
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Day 1 - Colosseum
Among the highlights there is the Colosseum, the largest antique amphitheater in the world with around 50,000 seats. However, as many people want to see it, you have to queue for a long time. It is therefore best to buy a ticket in advance online.
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Forum Romanum
You can also buy a combined ticket for the Colosseum and the Forum Romanum. The Forum was the center of Rome, where Cicero delivered his ingenious speeches and the Roman emperors celebrated their victories. Today it is a picturesque ruined landscape in the middle of the modern city. My tip: look at the 3D reconstructions online help to better imagine the Forum of Antiquity.
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Pantheon
After a break you can continue on foot, because the next sight is not far away: the Pantheon at the Piazza della Rotonda with its impressive dome. It was once a Roman sanctuary for all their gods. Since the 16th century it has been used as a funeral church for important personalities such as the painter Raphael or King Victor Emanuel II.
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Trevi Fountain
From the Pantheon continue on to Italy's most famous fountain. Those who have already fallen in love with Rome and want to return, toss a coin over their shoulder into the water. According to legend, this is a guarantee for another visit to Rome. As many tourists like the Eternal City, around one million euros a year end up in the fountain.
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Piazza Navona
I lived near Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. Almost every evening I came here to enjoy a drink and the wonderful atmosphere between babbling fountains, baroque churches and magnificent buildings, restaurants and cafés. In my opinion, this is the best place to end a strenuous tour.
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Day 2 - St Peter's Basilica
Start the next day well rested at St. Peter's Basilica. Clearly Rome is famous for both its ancient heritage and for its Vatican City. Accordingly, the queues are also very long here. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world and has a magnificent interior and exterior design. The highlights include the baptismal fountain, the papal tombs and the statue of St. Peter.
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The Vatican from above
The ascent to the cupola of St. Peter's is something special, because it goes along the vaulted inner wall of the dome to the observation platform at a height of approx. 117 meters (384 ft). There are over 550 steps to climb. From the top you have a wonderful view of St. Peter's Square and the city.
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Castel Sant'Angelo
Since you are already at the Vatican, a detour to the Castel Sant'Angelo is worth it. It was built in the 2nd century as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and later converted into a fortress. The Popes could escape through a secret passageway from the Vatican Palace to the Castel Sant'Angelo and seek refuge behind the mighty walls. Today the round building is home to the National Museum.
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Ice cream and pizza
After two days of sightseeing you should definitely treat yourself to an ice cream. Many ice cream parlors have a huge selection of flavors. My favorite ice cream was Bacio - a "kiss" of chocolate and hazelnut. Or if you are more hungry get a slice of pizza on your hand and then just stroll through the streets of Rome. Usually I had a specific destination besides Piazza Navona:
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Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps surrounded by cafés, restaurants and fashion boutiques are still one of the largest open staircases of the Baroque period. Here many tourists and locals meet, sit on the steps, stroll and chat. Street performers entertain while street vendors offer their goods for sale. "La vita è bella" (Life is beautiful) is the motto here.
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Day 3 - At the gates of Rome
Rome is beautiful, but it can also be very tiring. It is often hot, the traffic chaotic, many people out and about and pickpockets on the move. Therefore, my tip would be to head outside the gates of Rome on the last day. There is much to discover in the surrounding area. Like the Via Appia Antica, which was one of the most important trade routes in Italy during the Roman Empire.
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Ostia Antica
The train takes you comfortably to Ostia Antica, Rome's ancient port city which once had 50,000 inhabitants. The area of ruins with thermal baths, theaters, temples and houses is so expansive that tourists can spread out and immerse themselves in peace and quiet in the ancient world of the Romans. Some buildings are so well preserved that you don't need as much imagination as the Forum Romanum.
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Sun, sea, beach
A visit to Bella Italia without beach and sea? Not in Rome! From Ostia Antica it is not far to the Roman's favored beach at Lido di Ostia. It' s usually very busy here and many leave behind their litter, but if you are able to find a place for yourself, preferably further south, it is the perfect way to end your short trip to Rome.
