Dedication of the Rome Italy Temple
President Russell M. Nelson dedicated the Rome Italy Temple in seven sessions from March 10 to March 12, 2019.
Historically, this marked the first time in Church history where all members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gathered outside of the United States. President Nelson said he received revelation from the Lord to invite all senior leaders to the dedication.
Justin Bray, a historian for the Church History Department, said it’s rare for all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to gather outside of Church headquarters. What adds further significance is they met in a place which is significant to the history of Christianity, he added.
Being able to visit the land of their apostolic predecessors, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said it was like “paying homage to them and homage to the gospel that we all preach.”
Upon this experience, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said when people refer to Rome as the “Eternal City,” he perceives it as the Eternal City for all Latter-day Saints.
Their time in Rome will be a blessing to people all over the world, as they now have the opportunities to share their experiences in the holy land, President Nelson shared.
Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé said, “The Rome story has been a long story,” remarking on the prolonged process of the construction of the temple. The long process was a great opportunity “to learn and to experience the miracles of the Lord.”
Elder Massimo de Feo, the first General Authority Seventy from Italy and then-second counselor of the Europe Area Presidency, said he didn’t expect President Monson to announce a temple to be built in Italy. He said, “This was a dream. The dream then became a vision of faith."
With the house of the Lord, Elder Alessandro Dini Ciacci, an Area Seventy and chairman of the local open house and dedication committee, said the Italian community has been able to learn more about the Church. "Now they are all aware of what this means. They have a lot of questions for us. There has been heightened interest in who we are and what we do."
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “In this ancient and great city that has stood since biblical times — in this historic nation of Italy — we acknowledge the ministry of two of Thy Son’s early apostles, Peter and Paul, who once blessed this land with their labors. May the influence of their abiding testimony of Jesus Christ continue to be felt among the vital values of this great country.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Rome Italy Temple here.
Timeline of the Rome Italy Temple
On Oct. 4, 2008, President Thomas S. Monson announced plans to build a temple in Rome, Italy. Two years later, he presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rome temple on Oct. 23, 2010.
President Russell M. Nelson dedicated the temple in seven sessions from March 10 to March 12, 2019. He shared the significance of the temple’s location, which is home to the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Architecture and Design of the Rome Italy Temple
Measuring three stories high and 40,000 square feet, the architecture of the Rome Italy Temple draws inspiration from ancient Rome. According to architect Neils Valentiner, the design was based on a Roman Catholic church called the San Carlino. He said the temple bears curvatures on the interior and exterior to match the ancient design.
The interior is made from elements including Perlato Svevo, Cenia marble, sapele, burl and cherry wood millwork and Murano glass fixtures from Venice. Adorning art glass reflects inspiration from the life of Christ and olive tree’s surrounding the house of the Lord. The olive trees are symbolic of the hope of the Resurrection of Christ, said Elder David A. Bednar.
The piazza links together the temple, visitors' center, multifunctional meetinghouse and temple patron housing.
Exterior Photos of the Rome Italy Temple and Visitors' Center
Interior Photos of the Rome Italy Temple
Church Leaders in Rome
