Rome, Italy, Jun 2, 2011 / 11:19 am
Australians traveling to Rome now have a place that they can call home--Domus Australia – or Australia House. Cardinal George Pell of Sydney described the newly renovated pilgrim center as “a house, a community of religious inspiration.”
“The thinking was to create in a very old tradition of pilgrim centers in Rome,” the rector of the Domus Australia, Father Anthony Denton, told CNA.
“That means that Australians can come here and have some sort of orientation when they visit Rome rather than just get stuck on the number 64 bus, getting robbed. They can actually come here and get information and have a nice place to stay.”
The center is situated only five minutes walk from the city’s main Termini train station. It’s a former Marist Brother’s house of studies built in the 19th century. Three years ago, though, it was acquired by the Catholic Church in Australia. It’s since been heavily renovated and restored.