The approach to the Church of Sant’Anselmo has always been notable for its understated dignity. A discreet driveway opens onto a quadriporticus with a central fountain and, to one side, the bronze statue of Saint Anselm by the Swiss sculptor A. Wider of Widnau. This quiet architectural ensemble, long familiar to visitors and residents alike, gained renewed prominence this autumn when the community completed the installation of a new fountain just days before the celebration of the Holy Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV for the 125th anniversary of the church’s dedication.

The project had its origins in August 2019, when essential dehumidification work on the library wall required the removal of the old fountain. It had been leaking for some time and could no longer be repaired. Sant’Anselmo’s European Director of Development, Father Markus Muff OSB, proposed replacing it with a new structure, and preliminary preparations began as workers restored the drainage system beneath the cloister. By the end of that year Brunella Marmi had been commissioned to craft the fountain, which was completed in 2020 and held in reserve while technical questions were resolved.

Progress slowed as the community sought a reliable hydraulic solution. Several firms were consulted over the following years, yet none could provide a system that met the site’s requirements. The question of where to place the equipment also remained unsettled. A breakthrough came in 2024 with the construction of a new accessibility ramp, which created a suitable space beneath it to house the necessary machinery.

With this obstacle resolved, a decision was made in 2025 to proceed. The company Pools was selected for the hydraulic work, and from March onward a series of meetings clarified the technical specifications. By late September the installation was ready. On 2 September the fountain was set in place with the assistance of Engineer Gabriele Felli, and a landscaping firm was brought in to restore the lawn and surrounding area.

The project was made possible through the combined efforts of Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, Fr. Markus and the generous support of Foundation Benedict Luzern. Founded in 2007 by Abbot Notker Wolf and Fr. Markus, the foundation assists shared responsibilities within the Benedictine world and supports, in particular, the work of the international Benedictine Atheneum of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. The completion of the fountain, timed so fittingly for the Pope’s visit, now offers a renewed welcome to all who enter the heart of the community on the Aventine.