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| Picture by Kolohe |
St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican is the largest church in the world by interior measurements. The site where it is built on is significant because it is the place where St Peter was martyred and buried.
In the 4th-century, Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and he had a basilica constructed on the hallowed site. Then, in 1506, Pope Julius II laid the cornerstone for a new basilica to be built over the burial place of St Peter. The new Basilica was designed by Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bramante; but construction took a long time and the Basilica was not completed until 1626, by which time all three of the designers had died. Many of the precious works of art in the new St Peter's Basilica were saved from the first basilica built by Emperor Constantine.
Our guide decided we should start our tour in The Vatican Grottoes, a series of catacombs beneath the Basilica. This area houses numerous papal tombs, a chapel, and works of art. Some of the walls and paintings from the 4th-century Constantine Basilica are still visible in the underground hallways.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
There are glass doors protecting St Peter's tomb and visitors are not allowed to enter the secured area.
Our guide led us from the catacombs up some back stairs and we ended up on the main floor of the Basilica. However, most visitors enter the Basilica through the large iron front doors located in the narthex facing St Peter's Square.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
After entering the Basilica, the large open area leading to the alter was filled with clear plastic chairs used for seating during Holy Year programs. The walls in the Basilica are lined with many statues, paintings, and other works of art.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The cathedral's bronze Baldacchino covers the Popal Alter (High Alter) and is built directly over the tomb of St Peter and directly under Michelangelo's dome. Gian Lorenzo Bernini started construction of the Baldacchino in 1624 and did not finish it until 1633, nine years later. Each column is 20 metres (65.6 ft) tall and is decorated with bronze olive and bay twigs. It is estimated that the structure weighs over 6,200 kg (13,669 lbs).
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Papal Alter (Picture by Kolohe) |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| The Basilica Alter (Picture by Kolohe)Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
We did not intentionally plan to visit Italy during a special holiday, but it turned out 2025 is the Jubilee Year of Hope that commenced on 24 December 2024 and will end in Rome on 2 January 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The previous Holy Year was the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2000. Holy Years occur every 25 years and the Holy Doors to the Basilica are not opened between the Jubilees.
Holy Years start with the "unwalling" (opening) ceremony of the "Holy Doors" in each of the four great basilicas that pilgrims (and other people) may visit in Rome - Basilica of St Peter, Archbasilica of St John Lateran, Basilica of St Mary Major, and Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.
During the Holy Year, many Catholics make a pilgrimage to Rome, so they can pass through one of the Hold Doors that have been opened. We were told that the ritual of passing over the threshold of the Holy Door symbolizes the passing into the presence of God. At the same time, "remission of the temporal punishment for the pilgrims' sins is granted, known as an indulgence." The Holy Door symbolism is from various Bible verses. In John 10:9, Jesus is quoted as saying, "I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved." In Luke 11:9 is found, "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." Revelations 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me."
We witnessed several large caravans of pilgrims led by someone carrying a cross and accompanied by a priest, making their way to the Basilica Holy Doors.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Since we were inside of the Basilica, and there were large crowds of people, we had to follow a marked course that went out of the front door into the narthex, then into another line that led through the Holy Door back into the Basilica. Once in the Holy Door line, we were not allowed to stop, so we had to take pictures while we were walking.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Once we were back inside of the Basilica, the line went past the Florentine Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo and then we circled around and went out to St Peter's Square through the narthex front doors.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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