Returning to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome (see First Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday), let us look at the highlight of the archbasilica: the papal altar. The main altar is always the focus and raison d'être of any church. It is the visible symbol of unity when the bishop celebrates the Eucharist with the people, as Christ instructed on Holy Thursday.
The main altar is surrounded by the golden baldacchino. Many people often miss the relics in the upper part, as the basilica may not be lighted when they are there. If you look carefully, you can find two silver busts of St. Peter and St. Paul, the pillars of the Church. In fact, the skulls of the two apostles are stored inside the busts.
The bodies of St. Peter and St. Paul are buried within the Basilica of St. Peter and the Basilica of St. Paul respectively. Excavation of these bodies showed that the skulls were missing, because they are located in St. John Lateran.
Tomorrow we will end the tour of the Roman stations.
Stational Churches in Rome
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