Denomination Roman Catholic Church | ||
Location Esperanza Base, Antarctica | ||
The Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi (Spanish: Capilla de San Francisco de Asís) is a chapel of the Roman Catholic Church located on the Esperanza Base administered by Argentina, on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in Antarctica. It is one of eight churches on Antarctica. Founded on February 18, 1976, and installed by the Argentine Army, it was the first Catholic chapel of the Antarctic continent.
The chapel provides spiritual support to the residents and staff of the base. Its first priest was the Jesuit Buenaventura De Filippis, born in Italy. This site has been part of several Antarctic milestones, including the first religious marriage, the baptism of Emilio Palma, who was the first recorded birth in Antarctica, and first communion ceremony.