His Holiness Pope Pius XII formally granted the use of the Church of St. Onofrio, founded by St. Jerome in 1434, and which has retained the appearance and atmosphere of a hermitage, to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The act of His Holiness dated August 15, 1945 designated the Church to be the spirtiual center in Rome of the Order. The Church of St. Onofrio and that part of it occupied by the Museum is dedicated to the famous Italian poet, Torquato Tasso who died in the cloister on April 25,1595 the evening before he was to be crowned with laurels on the Capitol.