Once known as “Via Cernaia” by Marist Priests who lived and studied there, the building now owned by the Australian Church has been opened by Pope Benedict XVI as an Australian pilgrim centre and has been named “Domus Australia”.
The Pontiff spent 45 minutes leading a brief religious service and then inspecting “Domus Australia”, a centre which combines a 32-bed hostel with a chapel decorated with Australian artwork and symbols.
The Pope said he hoped that the pilgrim centre, a brainchild of Sydney’s Cardinal George Pell, would encourage Australians to visit Rome and strengthen their relationship with the papacy.
“Pilgrims to Rome should always feel at home here, and the Domus Australia will play an important part in creating a home for Australian pilgrims in the city of the Apostles,” he said.
Cardinal Pell said the Pope’s attendance was “a sign of the high regard he has for the Catholic Church in Australia.”
“He doesn’t go to too many things, I think it is a sign of his esteem. I know that as he said he is very grateful for the way we looked after him for the World Youth Day (In Sydney in 2008).”
The Pope said the pilgrim centre “along with your new embassy (which was opened last year) has brought a little corner of Australia to the ancient city of Rome.”
During his blessing of the new centre the Pope was seated at the altar beside the bishops who lead the three archdioceses (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) and one diocese (Lismore) that provided most of the funding.
The bishops of Australia’s four other archdioceses, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, sat in the body of the church with the rest of Australia’s active bishops, who are in Rome for a five-yearly series of meetings at the Vatican.
The 32-room Australian complex is a brief walk from the central Termini train station and combines the redecorated chapel with hotel-style accommodation, a bar, restaurant, barbecue area, 150-seat conference room and an office and apartment for Cardinal Pell.
Cardinal Pell said he was confident that the centre would be self-financing.
Image and Source: The Australian