For centuries, it's here, before the tomb of St. Peter where a Pope prays, before starting his inauguration Mass.
Even though the resting place of St. Peter is the very heart of the Church, few people know other secrets surrounding it. For example, in its chapel there's a box full of palliums the Pope gives to new archbishops as a symbol of Church unity. Italian author Marco Agostini wrote a book titled, 'The Tomb and Its Memory,â? to help readers understand some of these traditions.
CARD. RAFFAELE FARINA
'It's uncommon to come across a book like this one...Usually, all the books about Rome and the Vatican only explain the city's works of art and don't go beyond that. But this book also talks the spiritual side of Rome.â?
Since 2009, the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano published a series of articles that delved into the secrets of the Basilica...Now, they are all published together in this book.
MARCO AGOSTINI
Author, 'La tomba e la sua memoriaâ?
'We can grasp the message of our faith, as Catholics, through images, symbols and of course the liturgy. This tomb has been the inspiration for a lot of art, throughout the centuries...â?
Roughly five million people visit Saint Peter's Basilica every year. Now there's a short guide to understand more than what meets the eye.
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