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18-April-2006 -- Catholic World News Brief

500TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA
Vatican, Apr. 18 (CWNews.com) - St. Peter's basilica, the largest and most important church in the Catholic world, marks its 500th anniversary today: April 18.

Despite it is the center of liturgical life at the Vatican, St. Peter's is not a cathedral; the cathedral of the Rome diocese is the basilica of St. John Lateran. But St. Peter's holds pre-eminent place because it is built on the tomb of St. Peter, at the site where the first Pontiff's martyrdom. Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, authorized construction of the first basilica in 319; the building was completed in 349. By the middle of the 15th century, however, the Constantinian structure was in danger of collapse, and Pope Nicholas V (1447- 1455) commissioned the architect Bernardo Rossellino to begin drawing up plans for a new basilica. It was Pope Julius II (1503- 1513) who had the old basilica razed, and asked Donato Bramante to design a massive new building in the shape of a Greek cross. The first stone was laid on April 18, 1506, at the site of the old transept. Four pillars and an arc to support the cupola were completed by 1514, at the death of the architect.

Raphael, taking up the work that Bramante had begun, chose the form of a Latin cross, with one arm longer than the three others. Antonio da Sangallo then became director of the project, followed by Michelangelo, who was appointed by Pope Paul III. Michelangelo returned to the plan for a building shaped as Greek cross, and by the time of his death in 1564 the construction of the dome was well underway. He was succeeded by Pirro Ligorio and Jacopo Barozzi, and they in turn were followed by Giacomo della Porta-- who, in collaboration with Domenico Fontana, completed the great dome in 1590. A spire topped by a cross was finished three years later. Carlo Maderno then won a competition under Pope Paul V (11605- 1621) to complete the nave of the basilica and design the enormous (375 foot) fa�ade. That project was completed on Palm Sunday, 1614. The new basilica was consecrated in 1626.

Pope Urban VIII (1623- 1644) supervised the design of the interior. Bernini designed much of the interior, notably including the enormous bronze baldachino above the altar. That work continued through the end of the 17th century, with sculptures and mosaics added throughout the 18th century. The central nave includes 39 niches, in which there are statues of the great founders of religious orders. In recent years new statues have been added to niches on the exterior o the building. The vault of the basilica is decorated with the words (in Latin and in Greek) that Christ said to St. Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build by Church�"

St. Peter's Square, with its colonnade (also designed by Bernini) defining the plaza outside the basilica, was completed during the same period, topped by 140 statues. The granite obelisk in the center of the square was set up in 1585: a massive task that required 800 men and 150 horses. According to legend, the Pope ordered complete silence while the Egyptian obelisk was being raised. But when the ropes being used to hoist the enormous obelisk threatened to snap because of friction, someone in the crowd shouted that the ropes should be dampened. The Pope then thanked the anonymous tipster for disobeying his order.

St. Peter's Square can easily accommodate 50,000 people. The basilica itself, with its huge central nave, can also accommodate thousands of worshippers, and is the central site for papal liturgical celebrations. From 1962 to 1965 the basilica was the site of plenary sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

While it is a busy functioning church, the Vatican basilica is also a monument to the history of Catholicism, and a magnet for tourists as well as pilgrims. The daunting taks of maintenance for the basilica is entrusted to the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the same institution that was established to underwrite construction of the building. The Fabbrica di San Pietro, for which Bramante and Maderno once worked, still employs architects who continually study the basilica, ready to take action to remedy any indications of structural damage or decay.

The management of the basilica also involves regular cleaning and maintenance, which is done not by any ordinary janitors but by the Sanpietrini, a group of about 60 custodians, whose jobs are highly prized and often handed down from father to son.

Maintenance of the basilica is accomplished with astonishing efficiency.

Wednesdays, when the Pope holds his weekly public audiences in St. Peter's Square, are the time for heavy cleaning inside the basilica. The Fabbrica di San Pietro has workshops for the repair and restoration of fabrics and frescoes. A mobile scaffolding is on hand to allow cleaning and repair in high places; special suspended platforms have been designed to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Columns are repaired; the marble floor, worn by millions of pilgrims' shoes, is polished and pieces are replaced.

The unending work of repair, restoration, and renovation is carried out by a small army of dedicated artisans employed by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, from their offices and workshops concealed from the public in the basement and massive walls of St. Peter's.

For my Orthodox brothers and sisters: St. Peter's the Church that the Patriarch of Constantinople is supposed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy when he's in town.

Can we get an indulgence?

Incognitus

I bet you would if you went there and fulfilled the usual conditions.

Those who indulge, Bulge?

Well, I've been to Saint Peter's often enough. My favorite indulgence in Saint Peter's is always a visit to the monument honoring the Stuart Kings - one always finds fresh flowers there and often others who also continue to hope for the restoration of the legitimate royal house.

That kind of indulgence is pleasurable but not fattening!

Incognitus

A former Australian PM who in later years did guided tours to Italy (until the legs could take it no more) wrote in one of his books that the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (a Scot) paid for the restoration of the Stuart tombs in St Peters out of her own funds.

ICXC
NIKA

My wife and I went to St. Peter's on pilgrimage back in 2002. It was an incredible experience, which included the scavi tour to the tomb of St. Peter's below the main altar.

For those how do not know, Vatican Hill was at one time an ancient Roman cemetery - similar in some ways to the above ground cemeteries of New Orleans. Constantine had the area filled in with debris and built the first Basilica to St. Peter over the tomb. That structure was a marvel. The new one is quite beautiful as well, but I would have referred to see Constantine's version! Anyway, the scavi tour takes you down into one of the "streets" of the old cemetery, until you reach the tomb of St. Peter. It really is a marvellous thing to be 15 feet or so from his relics.

in the main church, you can see the incorrupt relics of Blessed John XXIII and St. Josaphat. St. Gregory the Theologian is entomed there, as (was?) St. John Chrysosotom.

There are Orthodox pilgrimages that go to Rome. We met a wonderful group from Romania at "Tres Fontani" (sp?) - the place of the "three fountains" that flowed when St. Paul was beheaded and his head bounced three times forming the fountains out of the ground...at least that's the legend. It is now a Benedictine monastery that was also a place where many Roman Jews were hidden from the Nazis. THe Romanians were celebrating Divine Liturgy in the chapel ove St. Paul's prison cell. It was marvellous!

So, indlugences or no, I would highly recommend a pilgrimage to St. Peter's (and Rome in general) to all of my Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters.

In fact, it would be intriguing to go on a "Byzantine Tour" of the whole of Italy, would it not?

Gordo

Dear Gordo,

This Orthodox sister has visited twice and is thrilled that she did!

In Christ,
Alice

I've read this several times before, in several places. Could someone shed a little light on this? (E.g., who decided that each of the five Patriarchs would get one of the Roman basilicas? When did that happen? Has the Patriarch of Constantinople ever used "his" basilica? Why does St. Peter's "belong" to the EP, when St. Peter himself is normally associated with (old) Rome rather than New Rome?) Any info would be appreciated! Thank you!

Peace,
Alex

Alex,

Good question, especially since the Cathedra for the Pontiff is Saint John Lateran.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I think it's because St. John Lateran was built before St. Peter was. Plus it was not feasible to have the Roman See/Curia operate out of there at that time.

And I think the reason the Pope moved his office over to the Vatican was because he was running out of room at St. John Lateran (over crowded offices, etc.). I would assume. So the crumbling old Basilica gave the Pope advantage of demolishing it and rebuild it into larger buildings and add more buildings around...giving him more room.

Ironically, this current beautiful Basilica was the reason for Prostantism. As the funds from indulgences were used to build this magificient basilica.

My favorite part is the dome. I just cannot get over how huge that dome is! It's even almost as tall as the basilica itself! I cannot imagine the people who built it...I imagine it was very VERY dangerous project.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

"The Major Basilicas
To this class belong just four great churches of Rome, which among other distinctions have a special "holy door" and to which a visit is always prescribed as one of the conditions for gaining the Roman Jubilee.

St John Lateran is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome: the Pope (who formerly held the title Patriarch of the West), and hence is the only one called archbasilica
St Peter's Basilica, technically Vatican City State's parish church, is symbolically assigned to the Patriarch of Constantinople,
St Paul outside the Walls, technically also a parish church, to the Patriarch of Alexandria,
St Mary Major, technically not even a parish church, to the Patriarch of Antioch.
[edit]
Other patriarchal and pontifical minor basilicas
The four major basilicas and one other minor basilica in Rome are also called patriarchal basilicas, seemingly as representative of the great ecclesiastical provinces of the world thus symbolically united in the heart of Christendom (see Pentarchy). The only minor one of these five is:

St Lawrence outside the Walls to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, without a holy door.
Two more Italian churches are nominally papal patriarchal basilicas:

Patriarchal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Portiuncola
Another is the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, which has its own patriarch.

Next in rank are four so-called pontifical basilicas (so in name also papal), in Italy:

Pontifical Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii
Pontifical Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari
Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua
Pontifical Basilica of the Holy House of Loreto"

ICXC
NIKA

Not only is the dome huge but the baldacchino (canopy over the altar) is taller than the Statue of Liberty!!!!!

For those who would like to know more about St Peter's check this one out.

http://www.stpetersbasilica.org/

ICXC
NIKA