St. Peter's Basilica

Associated Faiths:

Roman Catholicism

Though a small number of non-Catholic Christians are also drawn to the site.

Accessibility:

Open to visitors.

Annual visitors: 10,000,000

History

Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign state (or nation). Gaining its independence from Italy in 1929, it covers less than a quarter of a square mile. And yet, ironically, it is home to Saint Peter’s Basilica, which has been called the “largest and most awe-inspiring Church” in all of Christendom. (The Basilica has sufficient space for 100,000 worshipers at any given time.) Built during the Italian Renaissance (AD 1506-1626), Saint Peter’s is said to have been built on the very spot where the original 4th century Saint Peter’s Basilica once stood—built by Constantine. When that church was in decline because of a series of fires, Pope Nicholas V (d. AD 1455) determined to replace it with a new and more spectacular edifice—and, from that inspiration, came this wondrous “sacred site.”

The development of this most famous of all Christian basilicas has a long history. As noted, its first iteration (under Constantine) was started just prior to the First Council at Nicaea (circa AD 319). However, the current edifice was begun in 1506. As was the custom in antiquity, much of the stone to build the new basilica was taken from other buildings. In the case of Saint Peter’s, rock from the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum, and even marble from ruined pagan temples, was used to construct the new sacred edifice.

As it relates to other aspects of the basilica and its surrounding environ, several details are worth noting. For example, the Piazza San Pietro—where pilgrims gather to await the announcement of a new pope—was created between 1656-1657. Under Pope Pius XII, archaeological excavations were conducted (1939-1949) beneath the crypt of Saint Peter’s—in an area which had been inaccessible since the 9th century AD. Among other things, the remains of an individual—enfolded in royal purple cloth with gold decorations—was discovered. Though it is impossible to say who the remains belonged to, the rarity of the items buried with it suggests someone of great importance. Pope Pius XII declared there were the remains of Saint Peter. That pronouncement served to solidify (in the minds of many) the long-standing Catholic tradition that Peter was buried beneath the original basilica.

The famous controversy of selling indulgences, which largely sparked the protestant reformation, is intimately connected to Saint Peter’s Basilica. In need of funding for the massive project, the Vatican sent out the German Dominican, Johann Tetzel, to raise funds through selling indulgences. However, his clash with Martin Luther lit the fire that would provoke the reformation and, ultimately, the birth of Protestantism. Indeed, it was the efforts to raise the funds to build the new Saint Peter’s Basilica that would lead Luther not only to write his famous 95 Thesis, but also this legendary line: “Everything is allowed in Rome, except an honest man!”

There are more than 100 tombs within Saint Peter’s Basilica. 91 of those are former popes—though several belong to former emperors and saints. In January of 2023, Pope Bennedict XVI was interred within the basilica, as was Saint Pope John Paul II. The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City may be the most revered cemetery in all of Christianity—and it is certainly the most exclusive one.

Religious Significance

Reliquaries are common in Catholic churches. They are the thing which often sets a space apart as “holy” or “sacred.” The incomparable dome of Saint Peter’s—designed by Michelangelo, though finished a quarter of a century after his death—is supported by four massive pillars, pentagonal in shape. Those gilded columns are actually reliquaries, each containing various sacred relics of the Church. In addition, Saint Peter’s is the burial site of many popes of the past; their remains reverently interred in this temple-church’s catacomb.

While historians may beg to differ, Catholic tradition says that Saint Peter himself is buried just under the Basilica’s high altar. The 1st century BCE obelisk—standing at the center of St. Peter’s Square and brought to Rome from Alexandria in 37 BCE—rests on “blood-soaked ground.” During the period of Nero’s persecution of Christians, thousands were tortured and martyred on that very spot, making it a pseudo-reliquary, and certainly hallowed ground.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican is not simply a church, it is also an art gallery, of sorts. It contains some of the most beautiful and important pieces of art anywhere in the world. A kind of history lesson in marble and canvas, it tells the story of the Catholic Church through its various famed sculptures and paintings. Statues of Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xaviar (the founders of the Society of Jesus), and Saint John of the Cross (the 16th century mystic)—remind us of some of the Church’s most important events and personalities. Michelangelo’s famed Pietà stands as a testament to the central message of the Church—that Jesus died for the sins and fallenness of humanity.

The statue of the seated Apostle Peter (in the Church’s central nave) is a reminder of the papacy, to whom Catholics believe Jesus entrusted the care of the Church. There are quite literally thousands of pieces of art in the halls, on the walls, and even in the floors of this famous basilica, testifying to various events in human history, and in the history of the Church. Thus, to walk the halls of Saint Peter’s is to walk the history of the faith—and to be reminded of what matters most in life and in eternity. Being there is a sacred and impactful experience.

Except when the pope is traveling, the pontiff recites the Angelus Prayer each Sunday (at noon)—reminding us of Christ’s incarnation and passion. Catholics and tourists alike will gather in St.

Peter’s Square (or the Piazza San Pietro), to experience this weekly event. On Wednesday mornings, crowds of the faithful assemble for the “papal audience,” to receive the pope’s blessing. And from the high altar—front and center in Saint Peter’s Basilica—the Pope celebrates the Mass. Thus, the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is the hub for the various activities performed by the Bishop of Rome. Christianity’s holiest man engages in his holiest works, making Saint Peter’s a “sacred site” for believing Catholics.

For each of these reasons, and so many others, the Vatican, they Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica of Saint Peter are set apart sites. One of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Roman Catholics, it is also one of the most popular places to visit for non-Catholics and even the non-religious. Because of its history and art, even those who do not embrace the teachings of the Church sense that they are on hallowed ground when they walk the halls of this most remarkable building.