The area where the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls

now stands, 2 miles along the Via Ostiense, was origi-

nally used as a vast ‘overground’ cemetery, in constant

use from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD, but

also used sporadically until late antiquity. It was a very

large area which included different kinds of tombs, from

family burial chambers to small chapels that were often

decorated with frescos or stuccos. Almost all of this bur-

ial area is now underground. Major excavation work car-

ried out in 1917 and 1918 to widen the Via Ostiense

brought to light the full extent of this burial area which

extends under the whole Basilica and surrounding zones.

The Apostle Paul was beheaded outside the walls of

Rome in the place known as Aquas Salvias around the

year 67 AD, towards the end of Nero’s reign. The body of

the martyr was taken away by other Christians and placed

in this necropolis on Via Ostiense about 3 kilometres

away from the place of his martyrdom. Tradition has it

that a Roman lady by the name of Lucina made available

a tomb to bury the remains of the Apostle.

As was the case immediately after Peter was buried, so

Paul’s final resting place also became an object of venera-

tion for the sizeable Christian community in Rome which

set up small memorials on the tombs of both of these

martyrs. Eusebius of Caesarea includes in his

‘Ecclesiastical History’ part of a letter from Caius, a pres-

byter under Pope Zephyrinus, who quotes the two monu-

ments that could be seen on the tombs of the Apostles,

one on the Vatican hill and the other along the Via

Ostiense.

The results of the first historical investigations carried out

on the tomb of St

Paul, situated un-

der the Confessio

altar at the centre

of the Papal Basil-

ica of St Paul out-

side the Walls in

Rome, were an-

nounced by Pope

Benedict XVI dur-

ing the closing

liturgy for the

Pauline year on

June 28th 2009.

The Pauline year

celebrations, dedi-

cated to the bi-

millennium of the

birth of Paul of

Tarsus, could not

have concluded in a more appropriate way. The Catho-

lic Church had carried out excavations and research to

find out with certainty the location of the tomb of St

Peter, the pivotal figure for the Catholic faith and for

the primacy of the bishop of Rome. But the tomb of St

Paul and what it might contain had always remained

shrouded in mystery. Instead, during an ecumenical

ceremony which included the participation of an Or-

thodox delegation from the Patriarch of Constantin-

ople in Istanbul, Pope Benedict XVI announced the

results of the recent, ‘careful’ scientific analysis.

The Pope explained that ‘A tiny hole was drilled in the

sarcophagus, which in so many centuries had never

been opened, in order to insert a special probe which

revealed traces of a precious purple-coloured linen

fabric, with a design in gold leaf, and a blue fabric

with linen threads. Grains of red incense and protein

and chalk substances were also found. In addition,’ he

continued, ‘minute fragments of bone were sent for

carbon-14 testing by experts unaware of their prove-

nance. The fragments proved to belong to someone

who had lived between the first and second centuries.

All this’, the Pope concluded, ‘would seem to confirm

the unanimous and undisputed tradition which claims

that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul’.

And he added, ‘This fills our hearts with profound

emotion’.

Since the 2nd century AD, people have come to pray at

the tomb of St Paul, as indicated in the account from

the presbyter Caius. Since then, the veneration of the

Apostle has continued throughout the centuries right

up until the present day. The results of the investiga-

tion which the Pope revealed offer a vital confirmation

of this religious tradition and reinforce the faith of

those, vast numbers of people who come from all over

the world to kneel in front of this sarcophagus which

contains the earthly remains of the Apostle of the Gen-

tiles.

THE INVESTIGATIONS IN

THE TOMB OF ST PAUL

September 2009

Year 3, N° 7

Page 2 Bulletin of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls

THE SERIES OF

‘PAPAL PORTRAITS’

ST. PETER (+ 67) and ST. LINUS (68-79)

The two medallions are located about twelve metres up on the east wall of the transept of

the Basilica, to the immediate right of those who are looking at towards the apse.

The Papal Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls houses artistic and architectural treasures of immense value. In this bulletin we begin a series of articles dedicated to the systematic descrip-tion of these works which decorate the basilica. We begin with the series of ‘Papal portraits’ that were begun in the 5th century. The famous series of ‘tondos’ or ‘medallions’ started by Pope Leo the Great (440-461) and restored by Pope Pius IX, continues through to the present day and is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world.

ST PETER (+ 67)ST PETER (+ 67)ST PETER (+ 67)ST PETER (+ 67) Jesus Christ left Jerusalem to go to Galilee, and as he was

walking one day there along the banks of the lake he saw

two fishermen who were casting their nets. He said to

them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of

men’ (Matthew 4:19), that is I will give you the virtues

needed to bring men to God. And they straightaway left

their nets and followed him (4:20). One of those two was

Simon (whom Christ called Peter), son of John and

brother of Andrew, born in Bethsaida towards the end of

the 1st century BC and citizen of Caperneum where he

lived with his wife and mother-in-law. Christian tradition

paints Simon as a man who easily despaired in the face of

adversity, who was often full of doubts and uncertainties,

but who was always ready to start afresh, full of strength and fervour. He is the first disciple that

St Matthew names in his list of the Apostles. After a solemn profession of faith, Jesus gives him

the name that will immortalise him, saying: ‘You are Peter and on this rock I will build my

Church’ (Matthew 16:18). On the eve of Jesus’ Passion, Peter is charged with confirming his

brothers in the faith for future generations. When Jesus announces that the disciples will aban-

don him, it is Peter who exclaims that even if everyone else abandons their Master, he will stay

will him and never abandon him.

In fact in the Garden of Gethsemane, while the soldiers are preparing to arrest Jesus, Peter

strikes at them and cuts off the ear of Malcus, servant of the high priest (Luke 22: 50). But just

a few hours later, in the courtyard of the high priest’s palace, he is filled with doubt and denies

that he knows the Master three times, just as Jesus had foretold his betrayal. One look from

Jesus was all it took for him to understand just how guilty he was and fill him with a sense of

remorse that would last for the rest of his life.

After the Resurrection, Peter returned to Jerusalem to preside at the election of the new Apos-

tle Matthew. On the day of Pentecost, he first preaches to the crowds as the head of the Apos-

tles. On that occasion he accuses the Jews of crucifying Christ and exhorts them to repent and

experience the power of his Word with such courage and zeal that three thousand Jews are

baptised into the new faith. He is pursued by the priests and imprisoned on two occasions, but

both times they let him go free as they cannot find anything to charge him with.

Peter goes to Samaria to help Philip the deacon with his work of evangelisation and to combat

Simon the sorcerer.

Then he returns to Jerusalem where he stays for three years, directing the work of the other

Apostles.

Page 3 Bulletin of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls

Finally he leaves James in charge of the Church in Jerusalem and goes to take the word of Christ to

Antioch where he sets up his pontifical see. From there he evangelises the provinces of Pontus, Gala-

tia, Capadoccia, Asia Minor and Bytinia. He visits Lydda, where he heals Aeneas who has been para-

lysed for eight years and then works other miracles at Joppe (modern day Jaffa), while in Caesarea he

baptises Cornelius, the Roman centurion.

In the second year of the Emperor Claudius, Peter leaves Esodius to look after the Church at An-

tioch and takes the pontifical see to Rome. Shortly afterwards, in 44AD, he returns to Jerusalem to

strengthen that Church which is being threatened by Herod Agrippa, grandson of King Herod who

ordered the slaughter of the innocents.

James is beheaded, while Peter is imprisoned and condemned to death. He manages to escape and

returns to Rome where he writes his first Epistle.

On the orders of Emperor Claudius he is chased out of Rome with all the other Jews and returns

once again to Jerusalem where he oversees the first councilliar meeting of the Church.

Church historians of the first centuries witness to the fact that Peter returns to Rome with Paul

around the year 65 AD during the reign of Nero. In that city, the Catholic faith had made great

strides, penetrating even as far as the imperial palace. Peter sends missionaries to Sicily and through-

out Italy, as well as to Gaul and the coast of Africa and he writes his second Epistle to Christians

throughout the world.

Meanwhile Nero begins his fierce persecution of Christians. Peter and Paul escape from the em-

peror’s soldiers and make new converts but are arrested just two years later after provoking Nero’s

wrath by speaking out against the reputation and the teaching of Simon the sorcerer. Imprisoned in

the Mamertine jail, they were then put to death in the year 67AD which, according to Catholic tradi-

tion, was the 25th year of Peter’s setting up the see of Rome.

While Paul, as a Roman citizen was beheaded, Peter, as a Jew, was crucified upside down on the

Janiculum hill in Rome. His body was taken by the faithful and buried along the Via Amelia near the

temple of Apollo where the great Basilica of St Peter and the Vatican palace now stand.

Peter only wrote the two Epistles that have been mentioned here, thus it is correct to consider as

apocryphal all the other works that have been attributed to him.

ST LINUS (68ST LINUS (68ST LINUS (68ST LINUS (68----79)79)79)79) The first successor of St Peter was St Linus, a native of Volterra.

Sent by his parents to Rome, Linus was able to hear the preaching

of the Gospel begun by the leader of the Apostles and became

himself a devout Christian. His virtues, his knowledge and his

great zeal persuaded St Peter to consecrate him as a priest and

choose him as a companion on his apostolic journeys. According

to Church tradition, Peter ordained Linus as he was going to Jeru-

salem to preside over the first council there and he left Linus in

Rome as his vicar. When he returned to Rome, Peter entrusted

Linus with an important mission in Gaul, where as a bishop he

made many converts through an active and fervent spreading of

the new religion of Christ.

When the persecutions of Nero broke out shortly afterwards, Linus returned to Rome to help the

Apostles Peter and Paul and when they were imprisoned, he took over running the Roman Church.

He most probably accompanied Peter to his martyrdom and after his death, helped by St Marcellus

and the other faithful, took care of his burial.

Tradition has it that Peter, fearing that the Church might remain without a leader in those disastrous

times, named Linus, Cletus, Clement and Anacletus as his successors to the pontificate, so that each

one could substitute the other. But it was Linus who took over after Peter and during his pontificate a

number of significant events took place, including the death of Nero, the destruction of Jerusalem

and the fleeing of the Jews, many of whom converted to the Christian faith.

Many miracles are attributed to St Linus and it is believed that after one of these which was deemed

to be offensive to the gods, Linus was imprisoned and then put to death.

Via Ostiense, 186Via Ostiense, 186Via Ostiense, 186Via Ostiense, 186

00146 ROMA00146 ROMA00146 ROMA00146 ROMA

Telephone : 06 698 80 800

Telefax : 06 698 80 803

e-mail : info@basilicasanpaolo.org

Papal Basilica of

St. Paul outside the

Walls

“IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE,

BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME!”

Gal 2, 20

THE WEB SITE OF THE PAULINE YEAR NOW ALSO IN ENGLISH,

SPANISH , DEUTCH , FRENCH AND PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE

The website of the Pauline year, started in Italian language, now is available in English, Spa-nish, Deutch and French.. The web site, that supplies modernized informations also about the calendar and the services beyond a montly bulletin for the mass media, allows to interact with announcement of pilgri-mages and reservations of celebrations and events in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls.

CONCLUSION OF THE PAULINE YEAR

Almost two million pilgrims in the Basilica and over two million visits to the website

Five hundred thousand visitors to the website from one hundred and ninety-four na-

tions and over two million hits on its pages – those are the official figures for our

Pauline year internet site over its twelve months of activity. The site was set up as an

important reference point for the Pauline year (from June 28th 2998 to June 29th 2009),

to promote and to keep people informed about the numerous cultural events and reli-

gious activities that were made up the celebrations.

Published and updated regularly in six languages (English, French, German, Spanish,

Portuguese and Italian), the site received the largest number of visitors from central

and Western Europe (France, Spain, Poland) and from the American continent, in par-

ticular from central and south America (Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Brazil,) though there were also many visitors

from the United States, Canada and all over Asia.

Interest in the site, which reached an average of one thousand three hundred visitors a day, grew enormously when

the original Italian and French pages were expanded to include the other four languages, making it possible to pro-

vide a complete and continuous flow of information to people on the different continents. Huge numbers of people

also came individually or in groups as pilgrims to the tomb of St Paul from all over the Christian world. Over one

million eight hundred thousand pilgrims came through the Pauline door during the course of the celebrations mark-

ing the bi-millennium of the birth of the Apostle of the Gentiles to honour him and to kneel and pray just a couple of

metres away from the sarcophagus beneath the altar where the mortal remains of the saint were laid to rest.