The Sanctuary dedicated to Pope Karol Wojtyla. The church of San Pietro della Ienca, known as the sanctuary of Pope John Paul II for having been a place of prayer for Pope Karol, of which it houses a relic, and is a pilgrimage destination.
Small in size, it is characterized by a façade of irregular stones. Inside there is a single room structure, with a stone barrel vault.
The counter-façade wall features San Cristofaro holding the Baby Jesus, a fresco by an unknown author.
On the left wall there are two openings: a single lancet window and a Gothic style window with a pointed arch which originally constituted a side door. At the back of the altar there is access to a two-level sacristy.
The Church of San Pietro in the locality “la Jenca” was erected as a diocesan sanctuary dedicated to Saint John Paul II in May 2011 by H. E. R. Mons Giuseppe Molinari, Metropolitan Archbishop of L’Aquila.
The reason why the Church was erected as a Sanctuary is the numerous private visits of Pope Karol to the area. During his days of rest from the various commitments linked to the Petrine ministry, Saint John Paul II, a lover of the mountains, often walked along the meadows surrounding the Church of Saint Peter and gathered in prayer in what is now the sanctuary dedicated to him .
The religious building located in the uninhabited village of the same name, a short distance from Assergi, 25km from L’Aquila, is located along the Vasto provincial road located on a hill at around 1100 metres.
The Sanctuary is open all year round with the following times.
– Summer opening hours May – October (dates to be defined): every day from 10am to sunset (from 6pm)
– Winter opening hours* (October-May dates to be defined): Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm
– Group visits: visits after the indicated time are permitted only by prior reservation to the Rector
Shrine of Saint John Paul II
(Church of San Pietro alla Ienca)
Locality San Pietro della Ienca
L’Aquila
Abruzzo – Italy
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