Rome, Italy – 1970s – This photograph, taken by the Salesian and photographer José Luis Mena in the 1970s, presents us with a view of the imposing Basilica of St John Bosco in Rome. Its monumental dome rises above the city like a spiritual beacon, bearing witness to the strength and universality of the Salesian charism in the Catholic capital. In the scene, daily life flows naturally: people passing by, cars stopping, an urban rhythm that contrasts with the majestic serenity of the church. This photograph is part of a series dedicated to the monuments and emblematic places of Rome that Mena produced during those years, a body of work in which he skilfully combined his artistic sensibility with a profound documentary sensibility. In every image, just as in this one, he sought to capture not only the architecture, but the soul of the place.
