A Lesson on a Holy Expedition in Rome

Rome and the Vatican City

Introduction

This essay will focus on pilgrimage, those of Christian pilgrimage in particular. A pilgrimage is a journey that many Christians, and people of other faiths, make in their lives to a place of religious significance.

A place of pilgrimage may be regarded as significant because Jesus lived, died or was resurrected there (the Holy Land), a Saint lived or died there (Assisi), Mary was sighted in that place (Lourdes), or it is the location where a miracle happened or a relic is kept. Christians might go on pilgrimage to strengthen their relationship with God, request spiritual or physical healing, or go there in the hope of receiving absolution from God for their sins. They might also go on a pilgrimage to learn more about their religion or in hope that a miracle might happen there.

This essay will look at Rome and the Vatican City and how they became of religious significance.

St Paul was an Apostle who wrote to Roman Christians between AD 56 and 57 expressing a desire to visit them. St Paul did not arrive in Rome until AD 61, as a prisoner. He arrived at a port near Naples, from which the routes from the East to Rome terminated, where he was welcomed by a small group of Christians. The fact that there were Christians in this area proved that the religion was spreading fast across the Roman Empire.

When St Peter became an Apostle his name was changed from Simon and Jesus said to him, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." St Peter also arrived in Rome between AD 56 and 61. He was made the leader of the Apostles by Jesus Christ and was made the first Bishop of Rome, hence the first Pope:

"For centuries, therefore, Catholics have journeyed to Rome in order to pray where Peter was buried."

Roman Catholics regard the election of a new Pope as a highly significant event. Hundreds of thousands of Roman citizens and pilgrims crowd into the Vatican City to catch the first glimpse of white smoke which tells them a new Pope has been chosen and the announcement, "Habemus Papam", the Latin for, "We have a Pope". They look upon this event particularly important because: "they regard him as the successor of the Apostle Peter and the person who is the direct historical link to Jesus Christ."

St Peter and St Paul were both in Rome in AD 64 when a fire started and spread through most of Rome. Emperor Nero was blamed for this fire and in turn, he blamed the Christians. As a result, the Romans began to persecute the Christians. St Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded near the Tre Fontane on Via Ostiensis and St Paul was crucified in the Vatican area. St Peter thought that he did not deserve to die in the same way that Jesus did, and so he asked to be crucified upside down. Later, Basilicas were built over their respective tombs.

After the death of St Peter, people from all over the Roman Empire would go to Rome to visit the place in which he was buried.

"Many wealthy Englishmen of the day followed suit, trusting that by dying at Rome, close to the bearer of the keys of heaven, St Peter, they would stand the best possible chance on the Day of Judgement."

This shows the importance of Rome to early Christians; even Christians from England would go on pilgrimage to Rome having regarded St Peter as the first Pope. This also illustrates that at the time, all roads led from Rome and all roads lead to Rome and shows that the Word of God was spreading fast through the Roman Empire.

The persecution of Christians lasted around 300 years and was known as the "age of persecution" or the "age of martyrs". Christianity had become illegal and even the use of the term "Christian" was considered a crime. In AD 313 Emperor Constantine, whose mother was Catholic, allowed people to practice Christianity and shortly before he died, became Christian himself. Emperor Constantine also built a large church over the tomb of St Peter.

Since Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman Empire in AD 380, Rome became the focal point of the faith. I n 1506, Pope Julius II built a new Church over the tomb of St Peter, and it was not completed until 1677. The altar, used only by the Pope, is placed directly above the tomb of St Peter. I will talk more about St Peter's basilica in A(ii).

In 1929, the Italian leader, Mussolini, gave Pope Paul II a tiny state. Governed by the Pope and other important members of the Church, the Vatican City in Rome was regarded as the centre of the Catholic faith. Despite its size, with a population of only 500, the Vatican City has its own newspaper (L'Osservatore Romano), bank, radio station and television station.

The Vatican even has its own army. In 1506, one hundred and fifty Swiss Guards entered the Vatican and where blessed by Pope Julius II. In order to be a Swiss Guard, soldiers must be:

• A Swiss citizen
• A Roman Catholic
• Of a good moral ethical background
• A former member of the military school of Switzerland
• Between 19 and 30 years old
• At least 174 cm tall
• Not married
• Must have a professional diploma or a high school degree

(Swiss Guard - Admission Requirements, www.vatican.va)

The main priority of the guards is to watch over the most important places in the Vatican, including the Pope's private residence.

The Curia, the Vatican government, not only supervise how the state is run, but with the help of the Pope, also decide how all Catholics should live their lives therefore affecting:

"...the lives of individuals from Taiwan to Tennesse to Tahiti."

The Vatican is of the foremost importance of the Roman Catholic faith. The Vatican is: "...a voice free of bias and partiality, a wise voice with nothing to speak but love and kindness, a voice to brighten men's hopes and give them an awareness of their dignity and rights."

Thousands of Pilgrims and tourists go to the Eternal city every year and visit the Vatican. There are many things for Pilgrims to do in Rome and the Vatican City. They can visit the many Churches and landmarks important to the lives of Saints. Pilgrims also come to the Vatican City in hope of seeing, and maybe even meeting the Holy Father. Every Wednesday morning the Pope hosts an "audience", usually in the audience hall, but he might also sometimes address the audience in St Peter's basilica. At 11 am, after a cardinal introduces a group of people, the Pope will address them in their home language. The Pope also makes frequent appearances at his balcony, which overlooks St Peter's Square. From there, he will deliver a short sermon before conducting a session of prayer.

At Christmas and Easter, the most important festivals celebrated in the Vatican, the Pope gives a blessing, which is broadcast to televisions and radios worldwide. To mark the beginning of Lent, there is a great Carnival, where processions take place through the streets of Rome. On less important feast days, like that of the feast of Epiphany or those of particular saints, pilgrims can go to a procession in a particular area of which that saint is patron or a mass in the Church dedicated to the saint; for example on the Feast of Saint Peter on June 29th, there is a mass dedicated to him at St Peter's basilica.

There are seven large basilicas in Rome which are considered to be of great significance to Pilgrims; St Peter's, San Paolo Fuori Le Mura (St Paul Outside the Walls), San Giovanni in Laterano (St John Lateran), San Lorenzo Fuori Le Mura (St Lawrence Outside the Walls), Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (the Holy Cross in Jerusalem), San Pietro in Vincoli (St Peter in Chains) and the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Pilgrims in Rome most commonly visit St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. The current basilica, completed after nearly 200 years in 1677, is built in the shape of a cross; underneath the main body of the church there is a crypt where many Popes are buried. Further underground is another room, similar to a cave, which is believed to be St Peter's tomb. It is the largest church in the Vatican and: "...it is in Saint Peter's Basilica that the most solemn religious ceremonies of Roman Catholicism are held."

As a Roman citizen, St Paul was beheaded outside the walls of Rome and a monastery is built on what is thought to be the traditional site of his death, three miles from the city. The body of Saint Paul believed to be buried under the church of San Paolo Fuori le Mura. The original church was replaced in 386 AD and reconstructed in 1823. By standing on the site where St Paul had died, a pilgrim may feel closer to the Saint, they may perhaps even feel a certain presence of the Saint. A pilgrim may also try to empathise with the Saint, imagining how he would have felt at the moment he was to be executed.

The church of San Giovanni in Laterano, after a series of disasters, was rebuilt between the years of 1646 and 1650. Relics of the heads of St Peter and St Paul can be found in the church, as can the Scala Santa, which are said to be the stairs that Jesus walked on at the Palace of Pontius Pilate. The Scala Santa has now been covered in wood and pilgrims wishing to climb them do so, on their knees. There are many reasons for this; some pilgrims wish to empathise with the way Jesus felt when he was brought in front of Pontius Pilot, others may do it as a penance in order to receive absolution, or to feel closer to God.

The church of San Lorenzo Fuori Le Mura, built by Constantine, holds the relics of San Lorenzo. Having belonged to, or been associated with the Saint, a relic is regarded as important to a Christian as it has been preserved as an act of veneration. It also makes the pilgrim feel closer to the Saint because they can observe something that was once theirs and imagine how the Saint lived. It has undergone several renovations since the time it was built; including one ending in 1948 after an American air raid in 1943

The churches of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and that of San Pietro in Vincoli hold relics of the True Cross from Jerusalem and the chains which St Peter wore when in prison in Jerusalem and later, those used on him in Rome. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore was built in 432 AD and was the first basilica in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Also in the Vatican, pilgrims may also visit the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace. In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo Buonarotti to decorate the ceiling of the chapel. Taking four years to complete various works, including paintings of stories from the Bible, pilgrims today can still see his most famous painting of all, The Final Judgement.

In 2002, the Vatican saw a new generation of Pilgrims visit the Vatican. 2002 saw the annual World Youth Day held in Rome and 200,000 young pilgrims arrived to show their unconditional love to their Christ. They walked through Piazza San Pietro, meditating on the words of the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God. Blessed are the merciful, they will obtain mercy", projected through loudspeakers around them.

This section will reflect on some of the reasons given for going on pilgrimage in the introduction and how pilgrimage can affect somebody's life.

"I suggest that 'the heart in pilgrimage' is the basic meaning of Christian pilgrimages, whatever form they take, and that this inner sense of pilgrimage is also a uniting element in human life."

When a person goes on a pilgrimage, it is almost certain that their life will be affected in some way, either in a positive way, or in some cases, a negative one.

The experience of going on pilgrimage is always memorable and can greatly alter a person's life. Pilgrimage can be described as a somewhat "breathtaking experience", which leaves a person in search of a better life, either spiritually, mentally, or both. They may take the opportunity to make changes in their lifestyle and follow a more Christian life; for example they may decide that they wish to follow the Ten Commandments more closely, or in short, try harder to "love God and love thy neighbour".

Those who go on pilgrimage in search of physical or spiritual healing, often find it. If they are suffering from an illness, physical or mental, by going on pilgrimage they might see fresh hope, and the experience will lead them to be cured in someway. The most important thing the pilgrim might need to consider, when seeking to be healed, is that God may have helped them in an indirect way, which may not be obvious at first. If a pilgrim goes on pilgrimage as an act of intercession for somebody who has cancer, the way in which God might help them might not be to cure them directly, but maybe end their suffering in another way.

If a pilgrim has gone in hope of reconciling their relationship with God, after having been on pilgrimage, they may feel that they have received absolution and can make a fresh start in life. People who go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, for example: "...have voiced their longing to walk where Jesus walked."

The pilgrim may be touched by their experience and in turn the knowledge they have gained may encourage them to alter the way in which they live. A pilgrim may feel more inclined to do more in the way of charitable deeds, to follow more closely the ways of God, or simply go to church more often.

By meeting new people and becoming part of a wider Christian community, the pilgrim may find inspiration to become a better person in their everyday lives. They might also realise, those who are more fortunate, that they take advantage of the basic things in life and this may lead them to being more kind and understanding, and utilise the gifts and fruits given to them by God.

In general terms, after a Pilgrim has completed their spiritual journey, spiritually, they will be able to enjoy a richer life after having renewed their relationship with God and commitment to their faith. Ultimately, the Pilgrim will have been given a fresh outlook on life and will want to do more to make them a better Christian.

A minority of Pilgrims however, could be affected negatively by going on pilgrimage. If their prayers or wishes have not been "answered" in the way they wanted them to be, the Pilgrim may lose all faith in God and might abandon their religion. This is why it is important to have the ability of identifying other ways in which God may help you, or "answer" your prayers.

"Pilgrimages are not very important for Christians"

I disagree with this statement. My strongest belief is that pilgrimage is a time when Christians are away from their normal, everyday lives and have more time to reflect upon their relationship with God. I also believe that by going on pilgrimage, a Christian can grow spiritually as they are able to put their lives into perspective and spend time thinking about how they can become a better person.

Many Christians believe that by going on pilgrimage they are performing a public act of worship and that by gathering together they are able to get closer to God:

"For whenever two or three gather in my name, I am there."

However, other Christians may interpret this statement in a different way, suggesting that in fact, Christians can gather together at any time, or indeed any place.

Protestants for example, say that the idea of pilgrimage implies that God is only present in certain places, something that they believe is against the words of the Bible. A well used phrase is often used to support this idea:

"Look under a rock, I am there, look behind a bush, I am there."

Protestants would argue that this means God is everywhere and in effect, believing that pilgrimage is wrong. However, Roman Catholics and other Christians who believe in pilgrimage would disagree. They would state that they do not go on pilgrimage because it is the only place they can find God, but because due to events that happened in those places, they have a greater significance to their faith.

Some Christians would also argue that pilgrimage is expensive and would rather see the money spent on charitable deeds, like donating money to CAFOD, or organising events for charity. They use a phrase from the Gospel to support this idea;

"Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."

In this passage Jesus praised the widow for giving all she had, and so, Protestants would say that those who go on pilgrimage should too. On the other hand, other Christians would say that their reasons for going on pilgrimage would justify the costs; the fact that by going on pilgrimage they are reconciling their relationship with God. Protestants, who do not regard confession as highly as other Christian denominations, would say that a Christian can ask for forgiveness anywhere at any time and that it is not necessary to go on pilgrimage to do this.

In relation to this, Protestants and others who are sceptical about the idea of pilgrimage may also question whether or not God neglects an elderly person, or somebody who is too ill to travel. The answer to this may well be that some people go on pilgrimages to offer prayers of intercession to God. Some Christian organisations arrange pilgrimages especially for those who may not be as able-bodied as others.

Pilgrimages may also be of importance to non-believers. They may find that they want to become a member of the Christian faith, they may even find their conversion immediate as St Paul did on the Road to Damascus. The pilgrim's conversion may be due to a miracle that has happened such as the most recent which is known to have happened in Lourdes, France in 1964:

"The cure of Serge Perrin... awoke with partial right-side paralysis, vision and speech impairment from an apparent stroke. In 1970 on pilgrimage to Lourdes, he was near death the night of April 30.

But the next morning the dying man insisted on being wheeled to the Basilica for the anointing of the sick. He felt warmth in a wave from his toes to his head, his vision came back, and he got out of the wheelchair -- where he had spent years as a paralyzed stroke victim -- a completely well man."

I think that the most important aspect of pilgrimage is that the pilgrim is away from their everyday life and so can spend time improving their relationship with God. Having said this, a person does not necessarily have to spend a large sum of money by going on pilgrimage, but can donate most of that money to charity and instead, spend a few days in solitude, on retreat. In my opinion, pilgrimage can enrich all areas of a person's life. It is also an opportunity to discover and improve a person's relationship with God and a way to publicly acknowledge him. In conclusion I believe that by going on pilgrimage, a person has a chance to grow both spiritually, mentally and in some cases they undergo a physical change. I feel that, for those who truly believe in pilgrimage it is undoubtedly an important belief for the pilgrim.