Following the spread
of the Reformation in Europe, the Church of Roma found
itself undertakes a new task of evangelisation and
defence of the Catholic faith. In order to confront the
undertaking, it needed priests coming from the various
nations in the hands of the protestants, who were,
however, adequately prepared. An indispensable
instrument was found in the institution of colleges
aimed at teaching the clergy. In particular, Gregory
XIII spent lavishly in order to set up many institutions
- the Armenian, Maronite, Greek, English, and Irish
colleges - strengthened the university with Jesuits, the
Roman College and protected the Germanic-Hungarian one.
Clement VIII founded the Scottish College at the end of
the 1500s.
Inspired by his predecessors, Gregory XV instituted the
Congregation "pro Propaganda fide" in 1622. The college
was born as a place for the education of young priests
of various nationalities, to send, once ready, to
evangelise distant people. The Congregation soon became
one of the strongest instruments of the church.
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In 1626, a Spanish priest, Juan
Baptiste Vives, gave the ex-Ferratini palace to the
Congregation. It is situated on the south side of Piazza di
Spagna. The following year, cardinal Antonio Barberini
senior, set up the Alunnato here, for the young of six
nations (called Urban College in honour of the reigning
pope). An early work on the building, in 1634, is down to
Gianlorenzo Bernini, who planned an internal chapel,
dedicated to the Three Kings, and having an independent
entrance from the street. Later, the congregation decided to
acquire the whole block (1644) and the facade in the square
was built.
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In 1646, Francesco
Borromini was commissioned to plan the new wing in Via della
Mercede. At first, the architect thought of adapting the
existing chapel to the interior of the new building, but
later (1650), he decided to rebuild, making it bigger,
causing contrasts with Bernini. The rectangular plan of the
room was lightened thanks to the many sources of light and
the great dynamism suggested by the design, with interlaced
arched in the vault and large windows inthewalls.
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