Erected in Milan’s Gallaratese district stands the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis. It is a testament to faith and modern architecture. Did you know its story began amidst rapid expansion?
In 1961 Archbishop Montini recognized the growing spiritual needs here. He established a new parish dedicated to Maria Regina Pacis Our Lady Queen of Peace. The Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis was built in 1966. Monsignor Valerio Vigorelli designed it. He was an architect from the Scuola Beato Angelico.
The Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis has a unique form. It rises as a polygonal prism above a low rectangular base. This base houses parish facilities. The exterior blends exposed brickwork with a fully glazed front corner. Ernesto Bergagna designed the glasswork. His abstract geometric designs feature shades of green and blue. They create a mesmerizing play of light.
Inside the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis you find a single nave. It has a subtly rhomboidal shape. The chapel and baptistery flank the entrance. The interior’s design promotes reflection and communal prayer.
The building rests on a parallelepiped. This highlights the ecclesiastical structure. The exteriors feature exposed brick. The main facade showcases a full-height stained-glass window. A portico wraps around the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis. It connects the church to the parish house.
Stepping inside the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis the single hall is slightly lower than the outside. Walls are marked by exposed concrete pillars. A band runs around the perimeter creating an octagonal crown. The Apostle’s Creed is inscribed on this band.
The presbytery area is clad in stone slabs. Other surfaces are exposed brick. A mosaic adorns the apse wall. Large artistic stained-glass windows illuminate the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis. These windows display abstract geometric discs. Additional pentagonal windows light the baptismal font.
Two side rooms flank the interior facade of the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis. To the left is the weekday chapel. It features a 19th-century wooden altar from Lampugnano. To the right lies the baptistery. Octagonal skylights illuminate both areas. A door to the left of the presbytery leads to the sacristy. It too is lit by an octagonal skylight.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini wanted this church. He blessed the first stone on November 18 1962. Monsignor Valerio Vigorelli replaced a prefabricated chapel with his design. Monsignor Schiavini opened the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis to the public on May 26 1967. Cardinal Giovanni Colombo consecrated it on October 7 1977. Pope John Paul II concluded the XX National Eucharistic Congress here on May 22 1983. Annamaria Trevisan added wall decorations above the Creed in 2012.
As you stand before the Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis consider its multifaceted story. It is a place of worship a work of art and a testament to community spirit. Its walls echo with prayers. Its windows filter light. The Chiesa di Maria Regina Pacis stands as a beacon of peace in a bustling city.