St. Peter is often considered as one of the first leaders of the Catholic church. Scholars suggest he was crucified in Rome, at the very site on which the Basilica was built. To commemorate St. Peter, Emperor Constantine I decided to build a church in the Vatican and pay tribute to his sacrifice. The tomb of the Apostle rests below the church, with an altar built precisely over it.
10 Interesting facts about St. Peter’s Basilica
1. St. Peter rests under the Basilica
2. Relics of St. Peter found under the altar of the Basilica
In 1950, an inspection conducted under the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica revealed human bones dating to the first century. These relics reportedly belonged to a 60-year-old male. It is widely believed that the remains are of St. Peter. In 2013, Pope Francis, for the first time, displayed the relics at a public Mass. His remains are still preserved under the high altar of the Basilica.
3. Emperor Nero ordered St. Peter’s execution
Historical literature shows that St. Peter was killed on the order of Emperor Nero during the Great Fire of Rome in AD64. Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the fire, and St. Peter was sentenced to Crucifixion. The Saint wished to be crucified with his head down as he felt unworthy to be crucified the same way as Christ. When Constantine I decided to build a temple for St. Peter, he chose the exact place where St. Peter was crucified and buried.
4. The original St. Peter’s Basilica
Before the current St. Peter’s Basilica was constructed, an older church existed on the same site. The original church was built in the 4th century and stood in the place of the current basilica until Pope Julius II, in AD 1506, began the construction of the new St. Peter’s Basilica. It was a grand gesture to memorialize the death of the Apostle at Vatican Hill.
5. Emperor Constantine built the first St. Peter’s Basilica
Roman Empire Constantine I ordered to build the first St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The construction began sometime between AD 318 – 322 and finished under 40 years. It stood firm for many years, merging into the history of Rome and visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Constantine, the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, envisaged the plan to build the Basilica over the tomb of St. Peter.
6. Old St. Peter’s Basilica stood tall for 1200 years!
Until Pope Julius II decided to raze down the first St. Peter’s Basilica, the grand temple stayed in its place for 1200 years straight. Built over the site Circus of Nero, it commanded the respect of Romans for many years. By the fifteenth century, the Basilica was in ruins, forcing Pope Julius II to build a new church in its place. To preserve the virtue of the old basilica, the design of the new structure was inspired by it.
7. St. Peter’s Basilica: Largest church in the world
Made as a symbol of pride, St. Peter’s Basilica is grand by all measures. Measuring 448.1 feet, St. Peter’s Basilica consists of the tallest dome in the world. Its vast interiors cover more than 3.7 acres, while the entire area of the basilica is about 2.3 hectares. Outside the Basilica, St. Peter’s Square could host over 80,000 people. Often cited as the largest Christian Church in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.
8. 91 Popes are buried under the church
Under St.Peter's Basilica, about 91 Popes are buried in the papal tombs. There are also tombs of many royalties and noblemen sharing the same burial ground. Popes including St. Leo I, St. John Paul II, and St. Pius X were buried here. Archeologists consider these tombs as invaluable treasures because of their historical significance.
9. Michelangelo to Raphael – Architects behind St. Peter's Basilica
The Construction of St. Peter's Basilica stretched to nearly 120 years. Italian masters such as Michelangelo and Raphael contributed to the work, alongside architect Donato Bramante. Bramante's design was partly inspired by the Roman Pantheon, while Michelangelo designed the iconic dome of the Basilica. The last architect to lay hands on the structure was the renowned sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
10. Remains of Vatican Necropolis are a few feet below the Basilica
The Vatican Necropolis is directly below St. Peter's Basilica. With depths reaching 12 meters in some sections, the necropolis is a vast burial chamber of Popes and other significant individuals from the yesteryears. Excavations first took place in the mid-1940s when Pope Pius XII ordered a team to locate the tomb of St. Peter. Some of these burial grounds date back to the third century.
