This image is preserved in the Church of San Vital, built in 386, in Rome. / Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News
Rome Newsroom, Dec 17, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA).
TheChurchofSt.Vitale,builtin386,istheoldestChristianchurchstillstandinginthecenterofRome.Itisthe“onlyplaceofworshipfromthefourthcenturythathasremainedintactthroughoutthecenturies,”emphasizeditsparishpriest,FatherElioLops.
ThisearlyChristianchurch,discreetandgivenlittleattentionontypicaltouristroutes,safeguardsanartisticanddevotionaltreasurethatispracticallyunknown:thefirstimageofOurLadyofGuadalupepaintedintheItaliancapital.
“Ithasneverbeengiventheimportanceitdeserves,”LopstoldACIPrensa,CNA’sSpanish-languagenewspartner,referringtoarepresentationoftheVirginMarythatimmediatelybringstomindtheimageimprintedonSt.JuanDiego’stilmain1531.
Thesimilaritiesarestriking.“Thereisnodoubtaboutitsidentity,”theparishpriestpointedout.
Althoughthepositionofthehandsshowsaslightvariationandtheraysthatusuallysurroundthefigurearemissing,“thegazeisthesame,”heexplai
