Following the Footsteps of Paul: Rome
Rome is the center of the Roman Catholic Church and it’s capital is the Vatican. The largest cathedral in Rome is St. Peter’s. We are following the footsteps of Paul, but Peter was in Rome as well. Even though the Bible never mentions that Peter went to Rome, there is considerable evidence among the church Fathers.
Tertullian makes a note about Rome in “The Demurrer Against the Heretics” (A.D. 200), “How happy is that church . . . where Peter endured a passion like that of the Lord, where Paul was crowned in a death like John’s.” [in his statement about Paul he is referring to John the Baptist who was beheaded].”
At the end of his first letter, Peter sends a greeting from “Babylon.” Most scholars understand this to be a reference to Rome.
“She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1Peter 5:13, 14)
So Peter was here, at the end of his ministry, serving the Christians who were in Rome. The Bible is silent on when or how he came to be here. But it is generally recognized that he was martyred in Rome, probably in the Neronian persecution in the 60’s AD.
St. Peter’s Basilica is built upon the place where Peter was buried, in fact his body is there today, in the Crypt. When Jesus said, “Upon this rock (petros) I will build my church”, Roman Catholics understand it spiritually and perhaps literally. They claim Peter as their first Bishop and have built their chief cathedral over his body. Click the photos below to view them full-size…
St Peter’s Cathedral
A bird’s eye view of Rome
Bronze on a church door
The Liberation of Peter, Fresco in the Vatican by Raphael
Peter’s Tomb in the Crypt
The Vatican