In Italy, big-time architects are being hired to design churches (like in the old days, remember?). “It is premature to say that Renzo Piano’s spidery dome or Richard Meier’s three sweeping concrete sails and glass facade will push Roman Catholic architecture into a period comparable to the glory days when churches were stylistic showcases for masters like Francesco Borromini and Lorenzo Bernini. But some church officials are hoping that a return to architectural splendor will help put people in the pews.”