The place where Peter is buried

Editor's note: First in a series on the sacred places included in The Compass pilgrimage to Paris and Rome on May 3-13.

By Tony Staley

	Sites of Tour Pilgrimage to Rome and Paris
	What: The Compass tour of Paris/Rome Where: May 3-13, 2008 What: Bishop Robert Banks will lead a tour of holy sites in Paris and Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica Information: Call Amy Kawula, Compass marketing manager, at 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8212 or check out this pilgrimage page

The first day of The Compass' tour in Rome includes stops at the Vatican Museum and Gallery, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, a majestic baroque-style church that can seat 60,000. It was built over St. Peter's tomb.

We know more about St. Peter than any other apostle because of his prominent role, recorded in the scriptures, during the life of Christ and in the early church.

Peter, born Simon, was a fisherman who was led by his brother, Andrew, to Jesus. Peter was quick to act - and to apologize, if necessary. He's the one who asked Jesus the questions the other disciples were probably thinking but afraid to ask.

We remember him for: briefly walking on water, being one of three witnesses to the Transfiguration, cutting off the ear of the High Priest's servant, denying Jesus, and being the first of the Twelve to see the risen Lord.

As the rock on which Jesus founded his church, Peter proved his strength after the Ascension. Peter gathered the disciples to choose Judas' successor. He led the Twelve in proclaiming the good news after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost and he is credited with writing two letters.

Peter and John also healed the sick and taught about Jesus in homes and the Temple. Once, after they were flogged for refusing to stop preaching, they rejoiced because they had been worthy to suffer in the name of Christ.

After Peter received a vision telling him that food traditionally unclean to Jews was no longer so, he recognized the significance for future Christians. He baptized Cornelius, a centurion and a Gentile, and Cornelius' entire household without requiring them to be circumcised or follow any Jewish dietary laws. That action opened the church to Gentiles.

Once, after King Herod Agrippa had Peter arrested and chained in a cell between two soldiers, an angel appeared to set Peter free.

We know Peter was married because Jesus came to Peter's house and cured the apostle's ailing mother-in-law, who then cooked a meal for them. Some Scripture interpretations indicate that Peter also may have taken his wife on his missionary trips (1 Cor 9:5).

Although Scripture does not tell us about Peter going to Rome or about his death, tradition and sources such as Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Clement of Rome, Tertulian and Eusebius all speak of Peter serving in Rome, where some sources say he was tried and executed. Tradition says he was crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy to die like Jesus. The altar in St. Peter's Basilica stands where he was martyred.

Eusebius said Peter was buried on Vatican Hill. This is where Constantine began building the original St. Peter's Basilica in 323. On Dec. 23, 1950, after 10 years of archeological work, Pope Pius XII announced that Peter's tomb did indeed lie buried under the church, exactly in the spot where tradition said it did.

By the 15th century, this church had so decayed that leaders, including Pope Nicholas V decided to build a new church. After leveling the old church, not much work was done until early in the 16th century, under Pope Julius II. Even then, work stumbled along until 1546 when Michelangelo became chief architect.

St. Peter's today is the home of some great artworks, including Michelangelo's Pieta. More than 100 tombs lie in St. Peter's including that of Pope John Paul II.

(Staley, a former editor of The Compass, is a member of Resurrection Parish, Allouez.)

Next: St. John Lateran Basilica