and this one. Satuario Della Madonna Del Divino Amore was added by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000. It replaced the church of San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura.”
“What do you mean by indulgences?” Dennis asked.
“Indulgences are in catholic theology. They are remissions for sins commited. They are granted by the catholic church only after a sinner has confessed and been given absolution.”
“Oh I see. Well there’s hope for me yet.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“Oh nothing. Sorry. Just an English joke.”
Alberto’s face split into a huge grin.
“You English are very good at humour. Yes?”
“Very,” Dennis replied.
“The church was built surrounding part of the imperial palace of St Helena which she converted to a place of worship around the year 320AD. She was the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine who became the great. In 325AD the church was converted to a basilica and the floor was covered with soil from Jeruslaem. This is why the church has the name Holy cross in Jerusalem even though we are standing in Rome. From the outside the church doesn’t appear to be old. The bell tower was added in the twelfth century when the church was renovated by pope Lucius II. He also added a nave, a porch and gave the church two aisles. Santa Croce was again renovated in the sixteenth century and its appearance today comes from the Cardinal priest Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini who was the head of the church before becoming pope Benedict XIV. He connected Santa Croce to two others with new roads. The current façade was designed by Domenico Gregorini and Pietro Passalacqua. For 500 years there has been a monastery adjoining the church. Then earlier this year, in May 2011 an internal inspection, an inquiry, discovered that years of….how do you say?… problems….”
Some of the group nodded.
“After years of problems both financial irregularities and also behaviour unbefitting of a monk pope Benedict closed the monastery down. Now shall we go in?” he said turning and climbing the steps quickly. He used his umbrella as a walking stick and its metal tip click - clacked as he set off at a fast pace. At the entrance to the church he stopped for them.
Natalie and Dennis were the first to join him at the top of the steps.
“What behaviour?” Natalie asked.
“Excuse me?”
“What behaviour was unbefitting of a monk?” Dennis asked.
“There were reports of a nun who was pole dancing to entertain the monks.”
“No!” Natalie was shocked.
“What was her name?” Dennis asked.
“I’m not going to say. I’m sorry,” Alberto answered. He turned his attention to the others ascending the steps. Clearly not wanting to talk about it.
“Oh go on. What was her name?”
“Mr Dennis I am a deeply religious man. This is of immense embarrassment to the church, to the Roman catholic church. I do not wish to discuss it. If you are that interested and I suppose you journalists always like to get your story google the monastery and her name will be there along with the scandal.”
Dennis was going to reach into his jeans pocket for his phone but decided to leave it until later.
“No. It’s um! It’s not that important. I hope I have not offended you.”
“Not at all.”
The others got to the top of the steps.
“I would ask you to all put your cell phones on silent or turn them off. It will be quiet inside. Despite the importance of the church it gets very few visitors.”
“Has it always received few visitors?”
“No doubt Mr Hutchinson that in history its visitor numbers were many more. Helena had this holy place built for pilgrims who were unable to travel to Jerusalem. It is important to remember that the church did not take the name ’Holy cross’ until the middle ages. Now if we are all ready.”
He turned and stepped inside.
The church was brightly lit and they all stood and marvelled at the nave in front of the altar at the far end of the church.
“The style of building over the altar is eighteenth century baroque. The eight granite coloumns supporting the roof are the original ones from the fourth century. The flooring and frescoes are twelfth century. Underneath the altar is an urn which contains the relics of the saints Anastasius and Caesarius.”
Alberto gave them a minute to absorb the sights and sounds. Priests were going about their business in silence. One was lighting candles. Another was tidying a table containing leaflets and postcards. A few people were seated and praying. There were a few foreign tourists, English