View source for Church of the Gesù

{{short description|Mother church of the Catholic Society of Jesus in Rome}}
{{redirect|Gesu||Gesù (disambiguation)|and|Church of the Gesù (disambiguation)}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Church of the Gesù
| fullname = Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
| native_name = {{llang|it|Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù}}
| image = Church of the Gesù, Rome.jpg
| caption = [[Giacomo della Porta]]'s façade, precursor of [[Baroque]]
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-caption = Click on the map for a fullscreen view
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| mapframe-marker = religious-christian
| coordinates = {{coord|41|53|45|N|12|28|47|E|region:IT-RM|display=inline,title}}
| location = 54 Piazza del Gesu, [[Rome]]
| country = [[Italy]]
| denomination = [[Catholic Church]]
| religious institute=[[Jesuits]]
| website = {{URL|chiesadelgesu.org}}
| dedication = [[Holy Name of Jesus]]
| cult = [[Sacred Heart of Jesus]]<br>[[Madonna Della Strada]]
| relics = * [[Ignatius of Loyola]]
* [[Robert Bellarmine]]
* [[Francis Xavier]] (right hand)
| consecrated date = 1584
| status = Mother church of the [[Society of Jesus]], [[titular church]]
| functional status = Active
| architect = {{ubl|[[Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola]] | [[Giacomo della Porta]]}}
| style = {{ubl|[[Mannerism#Mannerist architecture|Mannerist]]|[[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] (façade)}}
| groundbreaking = 1568
| completed date = {{start date and age|1580}}
| length = {{convert|75|m|ft}}
| width = {{convert|35|m|ft}}
| width nave = {{convert|25|m|ft}}
| other dimensions = Façade direction: [[West|W]]
| dome quantity = 1
| diocese = [[Diocese of Rome|Rome]]
}}
The '''Church of the Gesù''' ({{langx|it|Chiesa del Gesù}}, {{IPA|it|ˈkjɛːza del dʒeˈzu|pron}}), officially named {{lang|it|Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sancarlino-borromini.it|title=Official Website|last=Society of Jesus|access-date=2009-01-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225094031/http://www.sancarlino-borromini.it/|archive-date=2009-02-25}}</ref>{{efn|The name of {{lang|it|Chiesa del Sacro Nome di Gesù}} is also used.}} ({{langx|en|'''Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus'''}}), is a church located at Piazza del Gesù in the [[Pigna (rione of Rome)|Pigna]] ''[[Rioni of Rome|rione]]'' of [[Rome]], Italy. It is the [[mother church]] of the [[Society of Jesus]] (best known as Jesuits). With its façade, described as "the first truly [[Baroque architecture|baroque]] façade",{{sfn|Whitman|1970|p=108}} the church served as a model for innumerable [[Jesuit]] churches all over the world, especially in [[Central Europe]] and in [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese colonies]]. Its paintings in the nave, [[Crossing (architecture)|crossing]], and [[Side chapel|side chapels]] became models for art in Jesuit churches throughout Italy and Europe, as well as those of other orders.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Gauvin Alexander |author-link=Gauvin Alexander Bailey |title=Between Renaissance and Baroque: Jesuit art in Rome, 1565–1610 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=1442610301 |year=2003}}{{page needed|date=July 2019}}</ref> The Church of the Gesù is one of the great 17th-century preaching churches built by [[Counter-Reformation]] orders like the Jesuits in the [[Centro Storico]] of Rome{{snd}}the others being [[Sant'Ignazio, Rome|Sant'Ignazio]], also of the Jesuits, [[San Carlo ai Catinari]] of the [[Barnabites]], [[Sant'Andrea della Valle]] of the [[Theatines]], and the [[Santa Maria in Vallicella|Chiesa Nuova]] of the [[Oratory of St Philip Neri|Oratorians]].

First conceived in 1551 by Saint [[Ignatius of Loyola]], the Spanish founder of the Society of Jesus active during the [[Protestant Reformation]] and the subsequent Catholic Counter-Reformation, the Gesù was also the home of the [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]] until the wide [[Suppression of the Jesuits|suppression of the order]] in 1773. The church having been subsequently regained by the Jesuits, the adjacent ''palazzo'' is now a residence for Jesuit scholars from around the world studying at the [[Gregorian University]] in preparation for [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordination]] to the [[Priesthood in the Catholic Church|priesthood]].

== History ==
Although [[Michelangelo]], at the request of the Spanish cardinal [[Bartolomé de la Cueva y Toledo|Bartolomeo de la Cueva]], offered, out of devotion, to design the church for free, the endeavor was funded by [[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Cardinal Alessandro Farnese]],<ref>{{cite book |first=Francis |last=Haskell |title=Patrons and Painters: A Study in the Relations Between Italian Art and Society in the Age of the Baroque |location=New Haven |publisher=Yale University Press |date=2002 |page=65-67}}</ref> grandson of [[Pope Paul III]], the pope who had authorized the founding of the Society of Jesus. Ultimately, the main architects involved in the construction were [[Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola]],<ref>Bruno Adorni, ''Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola'' (New York: Skira, 2008)</ref> architect of the Farnese family, and [[Giacomo della Porta]]. 
The church was built on the same spot as the previous church ''Santa Maria della Strada'', where Saint [[Ignatius of Loyola]] had once prayed before an image of the Holy Virgin. This image, now adorned with gems, can be seen in the church in the chapel of Ignatius on the left side of the altar.

Construction of the church began on 26 June 1568 to Vignola's design. Vignola was assisted by the Jesuit Giovanni Tristano, who took over from Vignola in 1571. When he died in 1575 he was succeeded by the Jesuit architect Giovanni de Rosis. Giacomo della Porta was involved in the construction of the [[cross-vault]], [[dome]], and the [[apse]].<ref>T. Vitaliano, ''Giacomo Della Porta: un architetto tra Manierismo e Barrocco'' (Roma: Bulzoni 1974).</ref>

The revision of Vignola's façade design by della Porta has offered architectural historians opportunities for a close comparison between Vignola's balanced composition in three superimposed planes and Della Porta's dynamically fused tension bound by its strong vertical elements.{{sfn|Whitman|1970|p=108}} Vignola's rejected design remains in an engraving of 1573.

The design of this church set a pattern for Jesuit churches that lasted into the twentieth century; its innovations require enumerating. Aesthetics across the Catholic Church as a whole were strongly influenced by the [[Council of Trent]]. Although the Council itself said little about church architecture, its suggestion of simplification prompted [[Charles Borromeo]] to reform ecclesiastical building practise. Evidence of attention to his writings can be found at the Gesù. There is no [[narthex]] in which to linger: the visitor is projected immediately into the body of the church, a single nave without aisles, so that the congregation is assembled and attention is focused on the [[high altar]]. In place of aisles there are a series of identical interconnecting chapels behind arched openings,{{efn|The Gesù's scheme of wide-arched bays defined by paired pilasters has its origin in [[Leone Battista Alberti|Alberti]]'s Sant'Andrea, Milan, begun in 1470.}} to which entrance is controlled by decorative balustrades with gates. Transepts are reduced to stubs that emphasize the altars of their end walls.

[[File:Dome of Church of the Gesù (Rome).jpg|thumb|Dome]]
The plan synthesizes the central planning of the High Renaissance,{{efn|The exemplar is [[Donato Bramante|Bramante]]'s original plan for [[St. Peter's Basilica]].}} expressed by the grand scale of the dome and the prominent piers of the [[crossing (architecture)|crossing]], with the extended nave that had been characteristic of the preaching churches, a type of church established by [[Franciscans]] and [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]] since the thirteenth century. The Jesuits relied heavily on the acoustics of the church; they wanted the faithful to clearly hear the words of the sermon. This is why the church was constructed with a single nave, and a dome at the nave, transept intersection.<ref>Klaus, Reichold. Graf, Bernhard, and  Wynne, Christopher. ''Buildings that Changed the World''. New York: Prestel, 1999, p. 102</ref>

Everywhere inlaid polychrome marble revetments are relieved by gilding, frescoed barrel vaults enrich the ceiling and rhetorical white stucco and marble sculptures break out of their tectonic framing. The example of the Gesù did not eliminate the traditional [[basilica]] church with aisles, but after its example was set, experiments in Baroque church floor plans, oval or Greek cross, were largely confined to smaller churches and chapels.

The church was consecrated by Cardinal [[Giulio Antonio Santorio]], the delegate of pope [[Gregory XIII]], on 25 November 1584.

== Façade ==
The façade of the church was modified and done later by Giacomo Della Porta. We can see two main sections which are decorated with [[Acanthus (ornament)|acanthus leaves]] on pilasters and column capitals. 
The lower section is divided by six pairs of pilasters (with a mix of columns and pilasters framing the main door). 
The main door is well decorated with low relief, the papal coat of arms, and a shield with the [[initialism]] [[SPQR]], tying this church closely to the people of Rome. The main door stands under a curvilinear [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]] and over it a large medallion with the letters IHS representing the [[Christogram#Western Christianity|Christogram]] and an angel. The letters IHS are the Latin form of the first three letters of the Greek spelling of the name Jesus, indicative of both the central figure of Christianity and the Jesuit's formal name, Society of Jesus.

The two other doors have triangle pediments, and in the higher part of this first level, two statues are set in the alignment of each of these doors. A statue of St Francis Xavier stands on the right of the façade. His left foot on a human body.
On the other side stands a statue of St Ignatius of loyola.

The upper section is divided with four pairs of pilasters and no statues. Upper and lower sections are joined by a [[volute]] on each side.

== Interior decoration ==
[[File:Chiesa del Gesù September 2015-1a.jpg|thumb|Main nave and altar]]
The first high altar is believed to have been designed by Giacomo della Porta. It was removed during the renovations in the 19th century and its tabernacle was subsequently purchased by [[Patrick Leahy (bishop)|archbishop Patrick Leahy]] for his [[Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles|new cathedral]] where it was installed after some minor modifications.<ref>Peter Galloway: ''The Cathedrals in Ireland'', {{ISBN|0-85389-452-3}}, pp. 204–205.</ref>

The present high altar, designed by Antonio Sarti (1797–1880), was constructed towards the middle of the 19th century. It is dominated by four columns under a neo-classical [[pediment]]. Sarti also covered the apse with marble and made the drawings of the [[church tabernacle|tabernacle]]. The angels surrounding the IHS aureole were sculpted by Rinaldo Rinaldi (1793–1873). The two angels kneeling at each side of the aureole are the work of Francesco Benaglia and Filippo Gnaccarini (1804–1875). The altarpiece, representing the ''Circumcision of Jesus'', was painted by Alessandro Capalti (1810–1868).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TAooAAAAYAAJ Betti, Salvatore, ''Giornale arcadico di scienze, lettere, ed arti'', Volumes 199-201, Nella Stamperia de Romanis, 1867, p. 44]</ref> The ceiling of the apse is adorned by the painting ''Glory of the Mystical Lamb'' by Baciccia (Giovanni Battista Gaulli).{{sfn|Haskell|2002|p=83}}

The most striking feature of the interior decoration is the ceiling [[fresco]], the grandiose ''[[Triumph of the Name of Jesus]]'' (1678-1679)<ref>Hughes, Robert (2011). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=u3TsPpSRLRAC&pg=PT408 Rome]''.</ref> by [[Giovanni Battista Gaulli]]. Gaulli also frescoed the cupola, including lantern and pendentives, central vault, window recesses, and transepts' ceilings.{{sfn|Haskell|2002|p=83}}

The first chapel to the right of the nave is the '''Cappella di Sant'Andrea''', so named because the church previously on the site, which had to be demolished to make way for the Jesuit church, was dedicated to [[St. Andrew]]. All the painted works were completed by the Florentine [[Agostino Ciampelli]]. The frescoes on the arches depict the male martyrs saints Pancrazio, Celso, Vito, and Agapito, while the pilasters depict the female martyred saints Cristina, Margherita, Anastasia, Cecilia, Lucy, and Agatha. The ceiling is frescoed with the ''Glory of the Virgin surrounded by martyred saints Clemente, Ignazio di Antiochia, Cipriano, and Policarpo''. The lunettes are frescoed with ''Saints Agnes & Lucy face the storm'' and ''St. Stephen and the Deacon St. Lawrence''. The altarpiece depicts the ''Martyrdom of St Andrew''.
[[File:Chiesa del Gesù September 2015-7a.jpg|thumb|left|Detail of ceiling showing the ''trompe l'oeil'' effect]]
The second chapel to the right is the '''Cappella della Passione''', with lunette frescoes depicting scenes of the Passion: ''Jesus in Gethsemane'', ''Kiss of Judas'', and six canvases on the pilasters: ''Christ at the column Christ before the guards'', ''Christ before Herod'', ''Ecce Homo'', ''Exit to Calvary'', and ''Crucifixion''. The altarpiece of the ''Madonna with child and beatified Jesuits'' replaces the original altarpiece by [[Scipione Pulzone]].{{efn|Now in the [[Metropolitan Museum of New York]]}} The program of paintings is indebted to [[Giuseppe Valeriano]] and painted by [[Gaspare Celio]]. The altar has a bronze urn with the remains of 18th century Jesuit [[St. Giuseppe Pignatelli]], canonized by [[Pius XII]] in 1954. Medals on the wall commemorate P. Jan Roothaan (1785–1853) and P. Pedro Arrupe (1907–1991), the 21st and 28th [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]].

The third chapel to the right is the '''Cappella degli Angeli''', which has a ceiling fresco of the ''Coronation of the Virgin'' and the altarpiece of ''Angels worshiping the Trinity'' by [[Federico Zuccari]]. He also painted the canvases on the walls, ''Defeat of the rebel angels'' on right, and ''Angels liberate souls from Purgatory'' on the left. Other frescoes represent Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. The angles in the niches of the pilasters were completed by both Silla Longhi and [[Flaminio Vacca]].
[[File:Altar Francis Xavier Gesu.jpg|thumb|Saint Francis Xavier Chapel altar]]
The larger '''Saint [[Francis Xavier]] Chapel''', in the right transept, was designed by [[Pietro da Cortona]], originally commissioned by Cardinal [[Giovanni Francesco Negroni]]. The polychromatic marbles enclose a stucco relief representing ''Francis Xavier welcomed to heaven by angels''. The altarpiece shows the ''Death of Francis Xavier in [[Shangchuan Island]]'' by [[Carlo Maratta]]. The arches are decorated with scenes from the life of the saint, including ''Apotheosis of the saint'' in the center, ''Crucifixion'', ''Saint lost at sea'', and at left, ''Baptism of an Indian princess'', by Giovanni Andrea Carlone. The silver reliquary conserves part of the saint's right arm (by which he baptized 300,000 people), his other remains are interred in the Jesuit church in [[Goa]].

The last chapel on the far end of the nave, to the right of the high altar, is the chapel of the '''Sacro Cuore''' ([[Sacred Heart of Jesus]]), and contains the famous [[Sacred Heart of Jesus (Batoni)|Sacred Heart of Jesus painting]] by [[Pompeo Batoni]]. 

The sacristy is on the right. In the presbytery is a [[Bust of Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine|bust of Cardinal]] [[Robert Bellarmine]] by [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Bernini]]. The sculptor prayed daily in the church.<ref>Johnson, Paul. ''Art: A New History'', Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003, p. 391.</ref>

The first chapel to the left, originally dedicated to the apostles, is now the '''Cappella di San [[Francesco Borgia]]''', the former Spanish Duke of Gandia, who renounced his title to enter the Jesuit order, and become its third "Preposito generale". The altarpiece, ''Saint Francesco Borgia in Prayer'' by [[Andrea Pozzo|Pozzo]], is surrounded by works by Gagliardi. Ceiling frescoes of (Pentecost) and lunettes (left ''Martyrdom of St. Peter'', to sides ''Faith and Hope,'' and right ''Martyrdom of St. Paul'') with allegorical Religion and Charity are works of [[Nicolò Circignani]] (Il Pomarancio). [[Pier Francesco Mola]] painted the walls, on left with ''St. Peter in jail baptizes saints [[Martinian and Processus|Processo & Martiniano]]'', to right is the ''Conversion of St. Paul''. There are four monuments by Marchesi Ferrari.
[[File:Altar St Ignatius Pozzo n2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|St. Ignatius Chapel altar]]
The second chapel on the left is dedicated to the Nativity and called '''Cappella della Sacra Famiglia''', commissioned by patron Cardinal Cerri who worked for the Barberini family. The altarpiece of the nativity is by [[Nicolò Circignani|Circignani]]. In the roof, the ''Celestial celebration on the nativity of Christ'', on the pinnacles are [[David]], [[Isaiah]], [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zechariah]] and [[Baruch ben Neriah|Baruch]], on the right lunette an ''Annunciation to the Shepherds'', and on the left a ''Massacre of the Innocents''. Also are frescoes on ''Presentation of Jesus to the Temple'' and ''Adoration by Magi''. Four allegorical statues represent Temperance, Prudence on right; and Fortitude and Justice.

The third chapel to the left is the '''Cappella della Santissima Trinità''', commissioned initially by the clerical patron Pirro Taro, named due to the main altarpiece by [[Francesco Bassano the Younger]]. The frescoes were completed mainly by three painters and assistants during 1588–1589; the exact attributions are uncertain, but it is said the Creation, the angels on the pilasters, and the designs of some of the frescoes are by the Florentine Jesuit painter, [[Giovanni Battista Fiammeri]]. Painted with assistants was the Baptism of Christ on the right wall. The ''Transfiguration'' on the left wall and the ''Abraham with three angels'' on the right oval were by [[Durante Alberti]]. ''God the Father behind a chorus of angels'' in the left oval and in the pinnacles angels with God's attributes were completed by [[Ventura Salimbeni]]. The reliquary on the altar holds the right arm of the polish Jesuit St. [[Andrew Bobola]], martyred in 1657 and canonized by [[Pius XI]] in 1938.
[[File:Rom Il Gesu Hauptorgel links (1).JPG|thumb|Chapel of Madonna della Strada]]
The imposing and luxurious '''St. Ignatius Chapel''' with the saint's tomb is located on the left side of the transept and is the church's masterpiece, designed by [[Andrea Pozzo]] between 1696 and 1700. The altar by Pozzo shows the ''Trinity'' on top of a globe. The [[lapis lazuli]], representing the Earth, was thought to be the largest piece in the world but is actually mortar decorated with lapis lazuli. The four lapis lazuli-veneered columns enclose the colossal statue of the saint by [[Pierre Legros]]. The latter is a copy, probably by Adamo Tadolini working in the studio of [[Antonio Canova]]. [[Pope Pius VI]] had the original silver statue melted down, ostensibly to pay the war reparations to [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon]], as established by the [[Treaty of Tolentino]], 1797.

Originally the project was designed by Giacomo della Porta, then by Cortona; but ultimately Pozzo won a public contest to design the altar. A canvas of the Saint receives the monogram with the name of Jesus from the celestial resurrected Christ attributed to Pozzo. The urn of St. Ignatius is a bronze urn by [[Alessandro Algardi|Algardi]] that holds the body of the saint; below are two groups of statues where ''Religion defeats heresy'' by [[Pierre Legros|Legros]] (with a putto – on the left side – tearing pages from heretical books by Luther, Calvin and Zwingli), and ''Faith defeats idolatry'' by [[Jean-Baptiste Théodon]].

The St. Ignatius Chapel also hosts the restored ''macchina barocca'' or ''baroque machine'' of [[Andrea Pozzo]]. During daytime the statue of St. Ignatius is hidden behind a large painting, but every day at 17.30 triumphal music is played and the painting is lowered by the machine into the altar, revealing the statue, with spotlights used to highlight various aspects of the Ignatian Altar, while describing aspects of the history and spirituality of the Society of Jesus.<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.chiesadelgesu.org/html/t_macchina_barocca_it.html Presentazione della macchina barocca ideata da Fr. Andrea Pozzo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219201113/http://www.chiesadelgesu.org/html/t_macchina_barocca_it.html|date=2008-12-19 }} (visited september 16th 2009)</ref>

The last chapel on the far end of the nave, to the left of the high altar, is the '''Chapel of the Madonna della Strada'''. The name derives from a medieval icon, once found in a now-lost Church in the piazza Altieri, venerated by Saint Ignatius. The interior is designed and decorated by Giuseppe Valeriani, who painted scenes from the [[life of the Virgin]]. The cupola frescoes were painted by G.P. Pozzi.
The painting depicting the death of Saint John Francis Regis by [[Jacopo Zoboli]] is located in the sacristy rooms.

The pipe organ was built by the Italian firm, Tamburini. It is a large, three manual instrument with 5 divisions (pedal, choir, great, swell, and antiphonal). The swell and choir are enclosed. The pipes are split into three separate locations within the church. Two ornamented façades flank the transept walls (Swell and Great on the left and Choir and Pedal on the right) and a small antiphonal division is located above the liturgical west entrance.

== Influence ==
The Church of the Gesù was the model of numerous churches of the Society of Jesus throughout the world, starting from the [[Michaelskirche (München)|Church of St. Michael]] in [[Munich]] (1583–1597), the [[Corpus Christi Church, Nesvizh|Corpus Christi Church]] in [[Nyasvizh]] (1587–1593), the [[Saints Peter and Paul Church, Kraków|Saints Peter and Paul Church]], [[Kraków]] (1597–1619), the [[Cathedral of Córdoba, Argentina|Cathedral of Córdoba]] (Argentina) (1582–1787) as well as the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in [[Buenos Aires]] (1710–1722),<ref>{{cite book|title=Documentos de Arte Argentino, Cuaderno XXII: El Templo de San Ignacio|last=Pagano|first=José León|publisher=Publicaciones de la Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes|year=1947|location=Buenos Aires|page=18|language=es}}</ref> the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Tbilisi (1870–1877), and the Church of the Gesù in [[Philadelphia]] (1879–1888). Various parishes also share the name of the Church of the Gesù in Rome.

==Cardinal-deacons==
In 1965, the Church of the Gesù was made a [[titular church]], to be held by a  [[cardinal-deacon]].
*[[Michele Pellegrino]], [[cardinal-priest]] ''[[pro illa vice]]'' (1967–1986)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X5QKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22titular+%22+Michele+Pellegrino+gesu|title=The Official Catholic Directory for the Year of Our Lord ...|date=August 30, 1982|publisher=P.J. Kenedy|via=Google Books}}</ref>
*[[Eduardo Martínez Somalo]] (1988–2021; elevated to cardinal-priest ''pro illa vice'' in 1999)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qsZAAQAAIAAJ&q=%22titular+%22+Somalo+gesu|title=The Official Catholic Directory for the Year of Our Lord ...|date=August 30, 2009|publisher=P.J. Kenedy|via=Google Books}}</ref>
*[[Gianfranco Ghirlanda]] (2022–present)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d1n04.html|title=Santissimo Nome di Gesù (Cardinal Titular Church) [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.py/pais/2022/08/25/nacion-media-en-el-vaticano-francisco-fiel-a-su-estilo-moviliza-a-la-iglesia/|title=La Nación / Nación Media en el Vaticano: Francisco, fiel a su estilo, moviliza a la Iglesia|website=www.lanacion.com.py}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:G.B.Gaulli-Triumph of the Name of Jesus.jpg|''Triumph of the Name of Jesus'' by [[Giovanni Battista Gaulli]]
File:Madonna della strada.jpg|''[[Madonna Della Strada]]''
File:Religion Overthrowing Heresy and Hatred Legros.jpg|''Religion Overthrowing Heresy and Hatred'' by Legros
File:Triumph of Faith over Idolatry Theodon.jpg|''Triumph of Faith over Idolatry'' by Theodon
File:Thurles Cathedral Choir Tabernacle 2012 09 06.jpg|Original 16th-century tabernacle, moved to [[Thurles]] in Ireland
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Church of the Gesu (Frascati)]]
* [[History of early modern period domes]]
* [[List of Jesuit sites]]

== References ==
'''Footnotes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{citation|first=Nathan T.|last=Whitman|title=Roman Tradition and the Aedicular Façade|journal=The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians|volume=29|issue=2|year=1970|pages=108–123|doi=10.2307/988645|jstor=988645}}

== Further reading ==
* {{citation|last=Bailey|first=Gauvin Alexander|title=Between Renaissance and Baroque: Jesuit Art in Rome, 1565–1610|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2003}}.[https://utorontopress.com/ca/between-renaissance-and-baroque-3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102135315/https://utorontopress.com/ca/between-renaissance-and-baroque-3 |date=2020-01-02 }}
* {{cite book|last=Pecchiai|first=Pio|title=Il Gesù di Roma|publisher=Società Grafica Romana|location=Rome|year=1952|language=it}}

== External links ==
{{external media | width =210px | float =right | video1 =[http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/andrea-pozzos-saint-ignatius-chapel-in-church-il-gesu.html Pozzo's Saint Ignatius Chapel in the church Il Gesù, 1695 (Rome)], [[Smarthistory]]<ref name="smarth A">{{cite web | title =Pozzo's Saint Ignatius Chapel in the church Il Gesù, 1695 (Rome) | publisher =[[Smarthistory]] at [[Khan Academy]] | url =http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/andrea-pozzos-saint-ignatius-chapel-in-church-il-gesu.html | access-date =January 6, 2013 }}</ref> | video2 =[http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/il-gesu-rome.html Il Gesù, Rome], [[Smarthistory]]<ref name="smarth B">{{cite web | title =Il Gesù, Rome | publisher =[[Smarthistory]] at [[Khan Academy]] | url =http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/il-gesu-rome.html | access-date =January 6, 2013 }}</ref> }}
{{commons }}

* [http://www.chiesadelgesu.org/ Chiesa del Gesù (Rome) – Ordine dei Gesuiti website] {{in lang|it|en}}
* [http://www.collegiodelgesu.info/ Jesuit International College]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040805081615/http://roma.katolsk.no/gesu.htm Churches of Rome: Gesu]
* [https://previews.123rf.com/images/zatletic/zatletic1706/zatletic170600109/80101001-christogram-ihs-facade-of-the-church-of-the-gesu-mother-church-of-the-society-of-jesus-rome-italy.jpg IHS Christogram on facade]
* [https://previews.123rf.com/images/zatletic/zatletic1705/zatletic170500134/78079849-saint-ignatius-of-loyola-on-the-facade-of-the-church-of-the-gesu-mother-church-of-the-society-of-jes.jpg Depiction og Ignatius of Loyola on facade]
* [https://cbarnard2.wixsite.com/beggarsrome/copy-of-s-andrea-al-quirinale-1 "Beggar's Rome"] - A self-directed virtual tour of the Church of the Gesu and other Roman churches

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[[Category:16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy]]
[[Category:Baroque architecture in Rome]]
[[Category:Baroque painting]]
[[Category:Churches of Rome (rione Pigna)]]
[[Category:Jesuit churches in Italy|Gesu]]
[[Category:Mannerist architecture in Italy]]
[[Category:Renaissance architecture in Rome]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1580]]
[[Category:Titular churches|Gesu]]