Login

Church Of The Gesu

Mother Church of the Society of Jesus

The Church of the Gesu in Rome is the mother church of the Jesuits, begun in 1551, with a baroque facade that set a model for other Jesuit churches. The Church of the Gesu boasts ceiling and domed frescoes, and is known for its ceiling painting Triumph of the Name of Jesus.

Begun in 1551, The Church of the Gesu in Rome is the mother church of the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), and is the highest status of any Jesuit church in the world. The church’s Baroque Facade is known as “the first truly baroque facade” and has set an example for other Jesuit churches.

The interior of the church boasts a frescoed dome. The cross-vault, dome, and altar ceilings are covered with beautiful frescoes and Rococo decorations. The most famous Ceiling Fresco Triumph of the Name of Jesus, created in the 17th century by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Gaulli, is a stunning fresco made possible by the painter’s remarkable skill, creating a breathtaking three-dimensional effect.

Manywhere Trivia:
The Jesuits, or Society of Jesus, is a religious order under the Catholic Church, known for their tight organization, discipline, and absolute loyalty to the Pope.

The Church of the Gesu in Rome uses the common Latin cross layout, but instead of building a corridor or a hallway, it is only arranged with several interconnected chapels on either side of the nave. This design allows people to focus more on the main altar in the center of the church.

The Cappella della Sacro Cuore (Chapel of the Sacred Heart) and Cappella della Passione (Chapel of the Passion) are the two representative chapels in the church. The latter houses the bronze urn with the remains of 18th century Jesuit St. Giuseppe Pignatelli.

The left-hand transept of the church, which serves as a tomb of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, is the church’s masterpiece rich in carving and marble decoration.