10 surprising facts about St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican

St. Peter’s Basilica, consecrated on November 18, 1626, is a place that combines beauty, transcendence, prayer and worship. It is a work embellished by human hands and the grace of God.

One of the most iconic sites of worship in the world is St. Peter’s Basilica, located on Vatican Hill in Rome. It is the sanctuary and resting place of the chief apostle of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter of Galilee, the first Pope of the Christian faith.

The current basilica is the second temple built on this site. The first was erected by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, after the legalization of Christianity after centuries of persecution.

Due to its deterioration, the first basilica was demolished, and the current one was built during the Italian Renaissance, establishing itself as a jewel of this artistic and cultural movement. Consecrated on November 18, 1626, the basilica reflects the best of human creative genius. It is a place of majesty and power, of prayer and devotion, embellished by divine grace.

Here are 10 surprising facts about St. Peter’s Basilica:

1. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

With an area of ​​approximately 44 hectares, about eight Vatican cities could fit in Central Park in New York. Although it is the smallest country, its independence ensures that the Pope can teach and pastor without political interference.

2. A baseball game could be played in St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667, is 304 meters long and 228 meters wide. It could house the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field stadium twice. With capacity for 250,000 people, it is an ideal venue for large crowds.

3. There were no images of the Virgin Mary in the square until 1981

After the attack against Saint John Paul II on May 13, 1981, the Polish Pope attributed his survival to the intervention of Our Lady of Fatima. In her honor, he ordered the placement of a mosaic of Mary in December 1981, becoming the first Marian representation in the square.

4. The Super Bowl could be played in the nave of the basilica

The basilica’s central nave, designed by Carlo Maderno, measures 186 meters long, enough to host a Super Bowl game. This extension was a modification to Michelangelo’s original plan.

5. A space shuttle could fit in the dome area

At nearly 400 feet tall, the basilica’s dome is taller than the United States Capitol and could house a space shuttle with its rockets and external fuel tank.

6. Saint John Paul II rests on the altar of Saint Sebastian

The first altar to the right of the nave houses the remains of Saint John Paul II, moved there after his beatification. This altar, dedicated to the patron saint of athletes and soldiers, receives thousands of visitors every week.

7. The Holy Doors are only opened in the Jubilee Years

The Holy Doors of Saint Peter are opened only during the Jubilee Years, celebrated every 25 years as times of grace and conversion. The next Jubilee Year will be in 2025, beginning in December 2024.

8. The Pietà is the only work signed by Michelangelo

After hearing that his famous sculpture was attributed to others, Michelangelo signed his name on a ribbon crossed over the Virgin’s chest. He later repented and promised never to sign another work.

9. The feet of the statue of Saint Peter are worn by devotion

The statue of the apostle, located in the right transept, has worn feet due to centuries of veneration by pilgrims, who touch it as a sign of devotion.

10. The basilica is built on the bones of Saint Peter

The remains of St. Peter were believed to be beneath the basilica, but their exact location was unknown until the mid-20th century. In 1968, Pope Paul VI announced that, after exhaustive studies, the bones found were really those of the apostle.

The basilica literally stands on the relics of the first Pope, as a symbol of the Church founded on Peter and his confession of faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Translated and adapted by ACI Prensa. Originally published in National Catholic Register.