U.S. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago talks with children after celebrating Mass at his titular church, St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, in Rome March 10. Cardinal George is among 11 U.S. prelates expected to enter the conclave March 12 to elect the new pope. (CNS Photo/Chris Warde-Jones)
It is a church without parishioners, but not without a community. It is a church with roots as ancient as pagan Rome and a mission as modern as today’s conflicts and problems. It is — like the very piece of Rome on which it sits — a bridge. It is the Basilica of St. Bartholomew and Cardinal George’s titular church as part of his role as the clergy of Rome.The ancient house of worship sits on an island in the middle of the uniquely historic Tiber River. It is the river that divided ancient Rome’s government from its military and upon whose banks Julius Caesar shouted his conquering words of “Veni, vidi, vici” at the ruling Roman Senate. Today the church is a focal point of a much different attempt at conquest — a conquest over hunger, poverty and international strife. Cardinals are given, symbolically, churches in the City of Rome by the pope, no matter where they actually serve. This identifies cardinals more closely with the pope, the bishop of Rome and entitles them to be electors of that supreme bishop. On Feb. 22, 1998, Cardinal George took possession of St. Bartholomew, which some have called one of the city’s most historic, most beautiful and most important church. Today the church still sits on the picturesque and Tiberina island. The little bit of land is connected to the rest of Rome by two bridges. The northernmost — now just a footbridge — is more than 2,000 years old, built by the Romans and today the oldest surviving bridge in the city. The church building is bracketed on the island by a hospital across the narrow road and by Rome’s chief Jewish synagogue across the river. Also, hidden in the upper reaches of the attached building next door is a World War II-era place of worship and hiding for the Jews of Rome. It was never located by the Nazis. The church is now home to members of the community of St. Egidio, a volunteer lay movement dedicated to serving the poor and fostering international peace. To learn more about St. Bartholomew’s, visit www.sanbartolomeo.org.