150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (48)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Quirinal (1880) – in the vicinity of the earthly king

In her new apartment, the Foundress quickly began to regain her strength. After only a few days, she gathered her Sisters around her and, for the first time after a break of several weeks caused by illness, gave them a conference. Her words touched their hearts so deeply that Sister Gabriela later wrote them down in the Chronicle of the house.

“You have brought us to a new home, we have tidied up a little outside, now we need to think about tidying up our souls (…) A few steps away from us lives an earthly king, surrounded by subordinates who are always ready to obey his capricious will, who often suffer unpleasantness and personal sacrifices to please him or indulge his fantasies. What happiness it would be for us if our Heavenly Lord, our Crucified King, reigned among us, if our home became His kingdom, His little state, where He alone would reign supreme (…)

What place inspired Frances to give her beautiful conference on the Kingdom of God, from which I have quoted only a fragment? It is the Quirinal Palace, the seat of popes, Italian kings, and currently the presidents of the Italian Republic. It is the only institutional palace in the world that has been in continuous use for almost 450 years. In terms of size, it ranks sixth in the world, with an area (110,500 m2) 20 times larger than the White House. Since 2015, by decision of the President of the Republic, part of the building has been open to the public.

Built from 1573 by outstanding architects and artists, initially as a summer residence for popes, and then, from the aforementioned Paul V of the Borghese family, as a permanent residence for 30 of them. Four conclaves were held in the Pauline Chapel, which is similar in size to the Sistine Chapel. The results were announced from the loggia (balcony), which still stands above the main entrance to the Quirinal Palace; it was from here that the popes blessed “the city and the world.” The loggia was designed by the artist Gianlorenzo Bernini, whom we already know.

The last pope to live here was Pius IX, who, after the capture of Rome by Italian troops in 1871, withdrew to the Vatican and made himself its “prisoner.” This was only nine years before the Nazareth Sisters moved to the Quirinal Hill. The Sisters were therefore eyewitnesses to the great changes in the Palace, carried out in particular by King Umberto II (1878-1900) and his wife Margherita of Savoy. Many rooms were thoroughly renovated, and most of the furniture, tapestries, paintings, and ceramics currently found there were brought from all over Italy.

After the referendum of June 2, 1946, when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy, the Quirinal Palace became the seat of the President of the Italian Republic.

Photos: CSFN
View of the Quirinal from the Pallavicini Palace
Plaques above the entrances commemorating the popes who built the palace
Bernini’s Loggia of the Blessings
Inner courtyard
One of the palace rooms