St. Peter's Basilica

The Latest

Father Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv., communications director for St. Peter’s Basilica, holds up a copy of the first issue of the Vatican's new monthly magazine, “Piazza San Pietro.”

Vatican to point live webcam at St. Peter’s tomb, publish monthly magazine

Nov 25, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican on Monday publicized further initiatives undertaken by St. Peter’s Basilica in light of the 2025 Jubilee Year —... Read more

“Sts. Peter and Paul,” Altar of St. Catherine (1465), Schwabach, Germany. Artist unknown.

3 things to know about the 2 papal basilicas dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome

Nov 18, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Here are three things to know about the historical, architectural, and spiritual significance of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and... Read more

The Vatican and Microsoft have created a 3D digital model of St. Peter’s Basilica using the latest in artificial intelligence to offer a new way to experience the nearly 2,000-year history of the tomb of St. Peter.

PHOTOS: Discover the history of St. Peter’s Basilica in new Microsoft online AI-enhanced 3D model

Nov 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Accessible worldwide at virtual.basilicasanpietro.va, the free interactive platform allows anyone in the world to “visit” the virtual 3D model of... Read more

Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's gorgeous bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massive
bronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair.

Historic ‘Chair of St. Peter’ on public display in Vatican basilica for first time in 150 years

Nov 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The relic dispayed just above the tomb of St. Peter will be accessible for public viewing until Dec. 8, the... Read more

The Vatican has announced that the completed restorations on the soaring baldacchino over the central altar of St. Peter’s Basilica designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini will be unveiled on Oct. 27, 2024.

PHOTOS: Vatican to unveil restored baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 27

Oct 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Journalists donned hard hats on Tuesday to get a sneak peek of the nearly finished restorations, climbing the scaffolding to... Read more

Statue of St. Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

First women hired for St. Peter’s Basilica’s ‘Sanpietrini’ maintenance crew

Jul 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

While women have worked for the Fabbrica di San Pietro before, it is the first time women are officially part... Read more

Workers at the baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Restoration of Bernini’s baldacchino begins in St. Peter’s Basilica

Feb 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Workers will scale the scaffolding surrounding the 92-feet-high canopy each day to meticulously clean the dust and grime that has... Read more

Pope Francis blesses a mosaic of St. Charbel after his general audience Nov. 15, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square.

St. Charbel mosaic blessed by Pope Francis installed in Vatican grottoes

Jan 19, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The mosaic was installed in the grottoes located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Read more

Bernini's baldacchino at the papal Mass on Jan. 1, 2024.

Vatican announces major restoration project in St. Peter’s Basilica

Jan 11, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced on Thursday that the soaring baldacchino over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica will undergo a... Read more

“Christ Carrying the Cross” by Titian (1490–1576).

Vatican announces art contest for Stations of the Cross to be displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica

Dec 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican has announced an art competition in which your paintings can be displayed inside of St. Peter’s Basilica. Read more

Pope Francis invokes the Virgin Mary as Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis consecrates war-torn world to Virgin Mary in Eucharistic prayer vigil

Oct 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Invoking the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy, Pope Francis implored her in St. Peter’s... Read more

Synod members, led by Cardinal Gabetti, process into Saint Peter’s Basilica to pray the Rosary for Peace.

PHOTOS: Members of the Synod on Synodality pray the rosary for peace at St. Peter’s

Oct 27, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Their prayer intentions focused on those killed, wounded, and displaced by war, and included reflections on the past month’s work... Read more

Pope Francis prayed for migrants and refugees with the delegates of the Synod on Synodality at St. Peter's Square on Thursday evening, Oct. 19, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis leads prayer for migrants during Synod on Synodality

Oct 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The simple, 25-minute prayer service took place in a quiet St. Peter’s Square in front of Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz’s... Read more

St. Peter’s Square was illuminated by candlelight the night of Saturday, May 20, 2023, as pilgrims prayed the rosary in a procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Peter’s Basilica to offer nightly Eucharistic adoration during Synod on Synodality

Oct 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The basilica will also host weekly candlelight rosary processions at 9 p.m. each Saturday in the month of October. Read more

The Vatican will dedicate a new statue of the patron saint of Korea, St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

Statue of Korea’s patron saint to be permanently installed at St. Peter’s Basilica

Sep 11, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn was the first native-Korean priest and one of the country’s earliest martyrs. Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, presides over a Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sept. 10, 2023.

Ukrainian Catholic leader offers Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica

Sep 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sept. 10 that he wanted to express gratitude to the pope and Catholics everywhere for... Read more

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Now hear this: St. Peter’s Basilica upgrades its sound system

Jul 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

The new system debuted at the July 23 papal Mass for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Read more

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, presides over a penitential rite on June 3, 2023, two days after a Polish man stripped naked and stood on the basilica’s high altar.

Penitential rite held after naked man stands on St. Peter’s Basilica’s main altar

Jun 3, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

A Polish national stripped off his clothes and climbed onto the basilica’s high altar on June 1. Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHOTOS: Discover 8 beautiful images of the Virgin Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica

May 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

From Michelangelo’s Pieta to a 12th-century painting, St. Peter’s Basilica contains priceless sacred art depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more

St. Peter’s Square was illuminated by candlelight the night of Saturday, May 20, 2023, as pilgrims prayed the rosary in a procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

PHOTOS: Rosary procession in St. Peter’s Square honors the Blessed Virgin Mary

May 22, 2023

By Courtney Mares

St. Peter’s Square was illuminated by candlelight Saturday night as pilgrims prayed the rosary in a procession in honor of... Read more