At today’s Consistory, Cardinal Mario Grech, now part of the order of ‘Cardinal-Deacons,’ was assigned the title or titular seat of the Basilica of Santi Cosma and Damian, on Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome.

In the Conclave in which he appoints new Cardinals, the Pope also assigns them a titular seat, which is usually a Basilica in Rome of which they will be ‘protective Cardinals.’ In the case of Cardinal-Deacons, such as Bishop Mario Grech, they are assigned deacon churches.

These were originally charitable institutions – called deaconships in connection with the Church’s mission to serve the poor of Rome – in the time of Pope Benedict II (684-685). Pope Hadrian in the eighth century established eighteen of them, and remained so until the 16th century.

Although in practice this assignment does not add to the obligations of the office of Cardinal, except for some occasions in the year in which he celebrates in his titular church, the Cardinal’s connection with these titular churches in the Diocese of Rome is reminiscent of the right of the parish priests of the city to elect their Bishop, a duty which today belongs to the Cardinals when they elect the Pope in Conclaves.

The Basilica of Santi Cosma and Damian, in the heart of ancient Rome, is one of the oldest and most fascinating churches, in one of the oldest parts of the Eternal City, at the entrance of the Roman Forum and on the road to the Colosseum.

From a 4th century Roman temple it was transformed into a Christian church in the sixth century. In a circular shape, in addition to its historical value, it contains important works of early Christian art, especially mosaics.

Since the 1970s, the Biblioteca Pacis, the main library of the Roman Forum, has been built on this site. Then in the year 309 the Emperor Massencius built the so-called Temple of Romulus.

It was Pope Felix IV who in 526 merged the two buildings and created a Church dedicated to the saints Cosmas and Damian, two doctors probably brothers who took martyrdom together in Asia Minor in the persecution of Diocletian sena 303.

In 780 the church became one of the Diaconal Basilicas of Rome, by order of Pope Adrian I. In 1503 it was entrusted to the care of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Regular Order, who kept it since 1512 as their casa madre.

In 1600, it was hit by a strong earthquake and during the pontificate of Clement VIII it underwent a major restructuring, until in 1626 Pope Urbanu VIII ordered it to be rebuilt. In 1946, the monastic complex where the monks live was restored and enlarged.

The last titular Cardinal of this Basilica was Beniamino Stella, who on 1 May 2020 was elevated to the order of Cardinal-Bishop and then assigned the title of “suburban” diocese.

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