Burial place steeped in history and holy significance

April 9, 2005

The history of St Peter's Basilica, where Pope John Paul was to be buried yesterday, dates back to ancient times.

According to tradition Peter, one of Christ's 12 apostles and the first pope, was crucified upside down at the site and buried there.

A sumptuous basilica that was to become Catholicism's holiest shrine was built by the Roman Emperor Constantine in AD324 replacing the sanctuary that existed following Peter's death.

The church and surrounding sanctuaries were heavily fortified in the ninth century after Rome was pillaged. Fragments of two towers and the wall are still visible today.

An important part of the ancient basilica was demolished after 12 centuries under Pope Julius II as St Peter's, like other churches in Rome, had been neglected and was no longer considered safe after the popes took up residence in Avignon, France, during the 14th century.

In 1506 the first stone of the present basilica was laid. But work progressed slowly despite the work of the renowned architects such as Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo.

By 1564, when Michelangelo died, the dome had been built up to the top of the drum, and the apse and the transept were completed. In 1590 work on the dome was wound up and the cross was placed on the summit three years later.

The basilica is a masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. It remains the world's largest church, measuring 192 metres by 58 metres.

Pope Urban VIII consecrated it in 1626, 120 years after construction began. The vast interior - decorated with stucco work, statues and altars made to impress the outside world as the Catholic Church faced mounting pressure by Protestants - is splendid.

Michelangelo's Pieta, the representation of the dead Christ in his mother's arms that was carved from a single block of marble, is considered to be the basilica's most notable work of art.

Bernini added the colonnades surmounted by 162 figures that enclose the public place in front of the basilica in 1667 and created the altar that dominates the apse.

Access can be gained to the basilica through five bronze doors - all but one of which are from the 20th century.

Since its completion, St Peter's has seen many events that made church history, including the first and second Vatican councils in 1869-70 and 1962-65.

Popes traditionally perform public rites inside and in front of the church, including sanctifications and beatifications to honour people of exceptional Christian qualities.

Agence France-Presse


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