From 1527 to 1590 over 50 new churches were built in Rome. One of these was Il Santissimo Nome del Gesù (The Most Sacred Name of Jesus), the mother church of the Society of Jesus, which was founded in 1534 by the Spanish soldier-turned-priest, Ignacio de Loyola. Six years later the Jesuit Order was formally approved by Pope Paul III (r. 1534-49).

San Sebastiano fuori le Mura

Map
Church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
San Sebastiano fuori le Mura
The Basilica di San Sebastiano fuori le Mura (St Sebastian Outside the Walls) is one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome. It was founded in the 4th century when it was dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul and known as the Basilica Apostolorum. By the Middle Ages it had been re-dedicated to St Sebastian, who was thought to have been buried in the catacombs below. 

​The present church was built for Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633) by Flaminio Ponzio (1560-1613). The dedicatory inscription on the facade reads: SCIPIO ⋅ CARD ⋅ BVRGHENSIVS ⋅ S ⋅ R ⋅ E ⋅ MAIOR ⋅ POENITENTIARIVS ⋅ AN ⋅ DOM ⋅ MDCXXII. 

The beautiful wooden ceiling, which is intricately carved with the heraldic dragons and eagles of the Borghese family, is the work of Giovanni Vasanzio (c. 1550-1621). The Martyrdom of St Sebastian, in the centre, is the work of Annibale Durante. The ceiling also sports the coat of arms of Pope Gregory XVI (r. 1831-46), who ordered its restoration. 

The Chapel of St Sebastian has a very fine statue of the saint by Giuseppe Giorgetti (fl. 1668-82).

The huge marble bust of Christ the Saviour (1678) is a late work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). 

The Cappella Albani (last chapel on the right) is dedicated to Pope St Fabian (r. 236-50). 
Interior of church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Nave
Wooden ceiling by Giovanni Vasanzio, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Central section of the wooden ceiling
Saint Sebastian by Giuseppe Giorgetti, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Saint Sebastian by Giuseppe Giorgetti
Salvator Mundi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Salvator Mundi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gallery