St. Peter's Basilica news stories on Newser

Model for Michelangelo's Pieta Found

Matt Cantor — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:31:01 CST

A US art historian says he’s found the model for Michelangelo's great statue the Pieta at the Vatican, the Daily Telegraph reports. An Italian art collector picked up the 12-inch terracotta model at an antiques shop; before restoration, it was covered in paint and dotted with Scotch tape. But long...

Vatican Raises Hell Over Short Skirts

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:47:10 CDT

The Vatican's Swiss Guards' strenuous crackdown on "immodest" dress in the wake of a host of shocking pedophile scandals against Catholic clerics has left tourists aghast. The flamboyantly clothed guards, in puffy gold-and-blue-striped uniforms and plumed head coverings, are pulling aside women in sleeveless tops or short skirts and men...

Pope Bounces Back, Visits Soup Kitchen

M. Morris — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:48:38 CST

On his first trip outside the Vatican since being knocked to the ground in a Christmas Eve incident at St. Peter's, Pope Benedict XVI visited a soup kitchen in Rome today. The pontiff, 82, was unharmed when a woman vaulted a barrier and accosted him before Mass. Today he mingled...

Pope Delivers Christmas Blessing Despite Fall

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:03:45 CST

Pope Benedict XVI delivered his traditional Christmas Day blessing today, looking tired and unsteady but otherwise fine hours after being knocked down by a woman who jumped the barrier at the start of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican said the 82-year-old Benedict was unhurt in the fall and...

Benedict Ushers in Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:47:06 CST

Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Christmas as midnight struck at the Vatican, leading the celebration of Midnight Mass in the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica. Thousands of pilgrims, Romans, and tourists packed the basilica for the midnight service given by the 81-year-old pope. For those unable to enter, giant screens...

Vatican Opens Ancient Pagan Tomb

Kevin Spak — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:11:21 CDT

After a year of restoration work, the Vatican has unveiled one of the most luxurious pagan tombs buried in the necropolis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, the AP reports. Built by Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the second century, the once open-air tomb was buried by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century....

Pope Hails Easter Conversions

Caroline Zimmerman — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:27:00 CDT

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Mass today, hailing the miracle of conversion, "which renews itself even today" before a rain-soaked crowd in St. Peter's Square and calling for an end to hostilities in "Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, and Tibet." His address...

Michelangelo Sketch Turns Up at Vatican

Zach Samalin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:25:00 CST

A red chalk drawing, possibly Michelangelo's last before his death at 88, has been found in a Vatican archive after nearly 500 years. The sketch is a plan for the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, which Michelangelo was put in charge of in 1546, the BBC reports. A researcher "happened...

Man Tries to Hitch a Ride on Popemobile

Greg Atwan — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:28:43 CDT

A German man made a leap of faith in St. Peter's Square in Rome today, apparently attempting to board Pope Benedict's Jeep. A Vatican spokesman said the 27-year-old was trying to "draw attention to himself" when he dove over a barricade toward the slow-moving Popemobile; the man was immediately tackled...