Rome, Italy, Sep 13, 2017 / 05:02 am
During routine restoration of a nearly 1000 year-old church, a worker discovered bone fragments in clay pots – which may belong to St. Peter, three other popes, and four early Church martyrs.
"There were two clay pots which were inscribed with the names of early popes – Peter, Felix, Callixtus and Cornelius," the worker told Italian television channel Rai Uno, according to the Telegraph.
"I'm not an archaeologist but I understood immediately that they were very old. Looking at them, I felt very emotional."
The existence of the bone fragments has been known for centuries, but they had never been found. Inside the church of Santa Maria in Cappella, a stone inscription recorded the remains, indicating that the relics where kept alongside a piece of fabric taken from the dress of the Blessed Virgin Mary.