San Pancrazio

This article is about the basilica in Rome. For other places named San Pancrazio, see San Pancrazio (disambiguation).
Basilica of San Pancrazio, facade

The church of San Pancrazio (English: S. Pancras; Latin: S. Pancratii) is a Roman Catholic ancient basilica and titular church founded by Pope Symmachus in the 6th century in Rome, Italy. It stands in via S. Pancrazio, westward beyond the Porta San Pancrazio that opens in a stretch of the Aurelian Wall on the Janiculum.

The Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Pancratii is Antonio Cañizares Llovera. Among the previous titulars, Pope Paul IV (15 January-24 September 1537) and Pope Clement VIII (18 December 1585-30 January 1592).

History

The basilica was built by Pope Symmachus (498-514), on the place where the body of the young martyr Saint Pancras of Rome, or Pancratius, had been buried. In the 17th century, it was given to the Discalced Carmelites, who completely remodeled it. The church underwent further rebuilding in the 19th century, but it retains its plain brick facade of the late 15th century, with the arms of Pope Innocent VIII.[1]

Below the church there are huge catacombs, the Catacombe di S. Pancrazio or di Ottavilla. Entrance is next to the small Museo di S. Pancrazio with fragments of sculpture and pagan and early Christian inscriptions.[1]

Entrance avenue through the forecourt

Cardinal-Priests of San Pancrazio

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Touring Club Italiano, Roma e dintorni (Milan, 1965) p. 455.

External links

Coordinates: 41°53′06″N 12°27′14″E / 41.88500°N 12.45389°E