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St. Peter's is one of the four churches in the world that hold the rank of Major papal basilica, all four of which are in Rome, and is also one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
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St. Peter’s Basilica, present basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City (an enclave in Rome), begun by Pope Julius II in 1506 and completed in 1615 under Paul V. It is designed as a three-aisled Latin cross with a dome at the crossing, directly above the high altar, which covers the shrine of St. Peter the Apostle. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture and features many notable Baroque elements. It is often regarded as the greatest building of its age.
The edifice—the church of the popes—is a major pilgrimage site. Frequently drawing crowds of tens of thousands of Catholics, both the basilica and its adjoining St. Peter’s Square are used for a number of liturgies presided over by the pope throughout the year. Together with the Basilica of St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano), the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (all three of which are in Rome), St. Peter’s Basilica is one of only four churches in the world that hold the rank of major basilica. Until 1989 St. Peter’s was the largest church in Christendom. In that year it was exceeded in size by the newly built basilica in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The idea of building the church was conceived by Pope Nicholas V (reigned 1447–55), who was prompted by the state in which he found Old St. Peter’s Basilica—walls leaning far out of the perpendicular and frescoes covered with dust. In 1452 Nicholas ordered Bernardo Rossellino to begin the construction of a new apse west of the old one, but the work stopped with Nicholas’s death. Paul II, however, entrusted the project to Giuliano da Sangallo (see Sangallo family) in 1470.
On April 18, 1506, Julius II laid the first stone for the new basilica. It was to be erected in the form of a Greek cross according to the plan of Donato Bramante. On Bramante’s death (1514) Leo X commissioned as his successors Raphael, Fra Giovanni Giocondo, and Giuliano da Sangallo, who modified the original Greek cross plan to a Latin cross with three aisles separated by pillars. The architects after Raphael’s death in 1520 were Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, Baldassarre Peruzzi, and Andrea Sansovino.
After the sack of Rome in 1527, Paul III (1534–49) entrusted the undertaking to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who returned to Bramante’s plan and erected a dividing wall between the area for the new basilica and the eastern part of the old one, which was still in use. On Sangallo’s death (1546) Paul III commissioned the aged Michelangelo as chief architect, a post he held under Julius III and Pius IV. At the time of Michelangelo’s death in 1564, the drum for the massive dome was practically complete. He was succeeded by Pirro Ligorio and Giacomo da Vignola. Gregory XIII (1572–85) placed Giacomo della Porta in charge of the work. The dome, modified from Michelangelo’s design, was finally completed at the insistence of Sixtus V (1585–90), and Gregory XIV (1590–91) ordered the erection of the lantern above it. Clement VIII (1592–1605) demolished the apse of Old St. Peter’s and erected the new high altar over the altar of Calixtus II.
Paul V (1605–21) adopted Carlo Maderno’s plan, giving the basilica the form of a Latin cross by extending the nave to the east, thus completing the 615-foot- (187-metre-) long main structure. Maderno also completed the facade of St. Peter’s and added an extra bay on each end to support campaniles. Although Maderno left designs for these campaniles, only one was built, and that was of a different design executed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1637. Under the commission of Alexander VII (1655–67), Bernini designed the elliptical piazza, outlined by colonnades, that serves as the approach to the basilica.
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Bernini arranged prominent niches for four of the important holy relics housed (or once housed) within the basilica: the Veil of Veronica, part of the True Cross, a piece of the Holy Lance, and the skull of St. Andrew the Apostle. Bernini had these relics inserted into loggias built into the piers on which the dome rests. Each loggia is adorned with a bas-relief of Carrara marble to illustrate the relic within and features two ancient columns decorated with vine leaves, which were once part of the old basilica.
In addition to these four relics of the early church, the basilica and the grottos below hold the bodies or relics of numerous saints and popes. About 90 popes are buried in the papal tombs, including the first pope, St. Peter the Apostle; popes buried within the church itself are St. Leo I, St. Gregory the Great, Urban VIII, St. Pius X, St. John XXIII, and St. John Paul II. Relics of major saints include those of St. Luke the Evangelist, St. Simon the Apostle, St. Jude the Apostle, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, and St. John Chrysostom.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Aug 4, 2019 · St. Peter's Episcopal Church | Rome, Georgia | 706-291-9111. We challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus, as we serve compassionately, worship joyfully, and grow spiritually. ~Purpose Statement of the Diocese of Atlanta.
St. Peter’s Basilica is not just any old church, it’s the most important one in the world for the Catholic church. Its impressive history, priceless works of art, and jaw-dropping architecture are all best discovered with a guided tour.
St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the holiest temples for Christendom and one of the largest churches in the world. Besides, it's where the Pope presides many liturgies all year round. The construction of the new basilica began in 1506 when the old basilica had been torn down and was finished in 1626.
The Papal Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican (Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or St. Peter’s Basilica, is an Italian Renaissance church located in Vatican City. It is the papal enclave inside Rome.
Jun 19, 2023 · Spanning the reign of 20 popes and every famous Renaissance architect you can name, St. Peter’s Basilica is the most important of the four major basilicas in Rome, which makes it the most important Catholic Church on Earth. It’s also easily one of Rome’s most recognizable buildings.
