Ancient Roman architecture could penetrate through the clerestory windows. The oldest known basilica, the Basilica Porcia, was built in Rome in 184 BC by Cato the Elder during the time he was Censor. Other early examples include the basilica at Pompeii (late 2nd century BC). After Christianity became the official religion, the basilica shape was found appropriate for the first large public churches, with the attraction of avoiding reminiscences of the Greco-Roman temple form. The Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire. The circuses were similar to the ancient Greek hippodromes, although circuses served
José Ruiz Arenas Evangelisation by Pope Benedict. On 5 March 2012 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Benedict. On Tuesday, 18 September 2012, Archbishop Ruiz Arenas was named by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as one of the papally-appointed Synod Fathers of the upcoming October 2012 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, presumably because of his position as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. José Ruiz Arenas José Octavio Ruiz Arenas (born 21 December 1944) is a Colombian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church,