St. Peter's Basilica: 500 years represent masterpiece of art, faith

Published: 2006-04-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With Pope Julius II reigning, 1506 was a big year for the Vatican: The Swiss Guard was formed, the Vatican Museums were founded and the first stone was laid for the new Basilica of St. Peter. While the basilica will have to wait until this October for its chance to host an exhibit at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI marked the April 18 anniversary of the stone-laying ceremony. Calling the basilica a "masterpiece of art and faith," the pope said the whole world has admired "the powerful harmony of its form." He offered thanks to the popes who guided its almost 130-year construction and commissioned embellishments over the centuries, the great artists who worked on it and the personnel of the Fabbrica di San Pietro who continue to welcome visitors and clean up after them. "May the happy event of the 500th anniversary reawaken in all Catholics the desire to be 'living stones' for the construction of the holy church in which the light of Christ will shine through concrete charity and witness before the world," the pope said.

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