St Peter's bones

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Hello

Are the bones of St Peter in St. Peter's basilica truly authentic?I was reading a tourist guide for Rome and it claimed that the papal announcement on this is a "definitely maybe". Does anyone know the history of these bones?

thanks! janeiro

-- janeiro (janeiro_a@rocketmail.com), July 02, 2004

Answers

bump!

-- janeiro (janeiro_a@rocketmail.com), July 02, 2004.

when i was there a little over a month ago, i never saw, heard, or read anything which indicated that the bones kept in St. Peter's Tomb are not St. Peter's. it is not the complete set of bones, however, as the skull of saint peter was used in the making of a gold bust of saint peter which is kept in the church san giovanni in laterno, and located next to the gold bust of saint paul, which likewise contains st. paul's skull.

as a side note, the stairs leading to san giovanni are rather interesting. the square and most of the stairs is done in a drab gray stone. a strip leading up the center of the stairs, very well worn, is a definate orange, or brown colored stone. these stones used on the stairs were taken from the palace where pontius pilot ruled, where Jesus Himself climbed during His trial. once a year, a great pilgrimage is made to san giovanni, and the faithful climb these stairs on their knees as they approach the church.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), July 02, 2004.


Not to mention bits of the bones were removed for relics over the years.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIN@twocents.cam), July 02, 2004.


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