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St. Peter's Basilica

Bernini's baldacchino at the papal Mass on Jan. 1, 2024. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican Announces Major Restoration Project in St. Peter’s Basilica

Jan 11, 2024

The Vatican announced on Thursday that the soaring baldacchino over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica will undergo a major restoration.

“Christ Carrying the Cross” by Titian (1490–1576). | Credit: Titian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Vatican announces art contest for Stations of the Cross to be displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica

Dec 30, 2023

The Vatican has announced an art competition in which your paintings can be displayed inside of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis invokes the Virgin Mary as Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27. | Credit: Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Consecrates War-torn World to Virgin Mary in Eucharistic Prayer Vigil

Oct 27, 2023

Invoking the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy, Pope Francis implored her in St. Peter's Basilica to “intercede for our world in danger and turmoil” and to “convert those who fuel and foment conflicts.”

Synod members, led by Cardinal Gabetti, process into Saint Peter’s Basilica to pray the Rosary for Peace. | Credit: © Evandro Inetti/EWTN News/Vatican Pool

Synod on Synodality Delegates Pray the Rosary for Peace at St. Peter's Basilica: Photos

Oct 27, 2023

Their prayer intentions focused on those killed, wounded, and displaced by war, and included reflections on the past month’s work of the Synod, before the first session comes to a close this weekend. 

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Pablo Esparza/EWTN

Now Hear This: St. Peter’s Basilica Upgrades Its Sound System

Jul 23, 2023

A common struggle for elderly Mass-goers is being able to hear in church. It seems, then, that the unveiling of a new sound system in St. Peter’s Basilica couldn’t have had better timing. It was inaugurated on July 23, after 10 months of work, just in time for the papal Mass for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, presides over a penitential rite on June 3, 2023, two days after a Polish man stripped naked and stood on the basilica’s high altar. | Vatican Media

Penitential Rite Held after Naked Man Stands on St. Peter’s Basilica’s Main Altar

Jun 3, 2023

Two days after a naked man stood on the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in a shocking security breach, the basilica’s archpriest on Saturday held a penitential rite as required by canon law in cases where sacred places are desecrated.

In response to the long wait times to enter St. Peter's Basilica, those who wish to enter for Mass, confession, or adoration can now do so via a special "prayer entrance" immediately to the right of the barricades to enter through the metal detectors on the right side of the piazza. | Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

St. Peter’s Basilica Introduces New "prayer entrance" Amid Influx of Tourism

Apr 14, 2023

With 100,000 people cramming into St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the lines to enter the Vatican basilica have returned to their pre-pandemic wait times.

St. Peter's Basilica. | feliks/Shutterstock.

St. Peter's Basilica to Hold Monthly Eucharistic Adoration on Portico

Mar 9, 2023

St. Peter’s Basilica will now host an hour of Eucharistic adoration on its front portico once a month.

Sculpture of St. Peter outside of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican | Unsplash

Vatican Invites Protestant, Orthodox Theologians to Debate Petrine Primacy at St. Peter’s

Oct 20, 2022

The Vatican will host a discussion inside St. Peter’s Basilica next month between a Catholic, a Protestant, and an Orthodox theologian on the primacy of Peter.

St. Peter’s Basilica, seen through the Vatican’s Christmas tree. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Pope Francis Creates New Foundation Promoting Principles of "Fratelli tutti"

Dec 15, 2021

The new body will foster spirituality, art, formation, and dialogue in the environs of St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24, 2018. Vatican Media.

Christmas at the Vatican: Here are the Liturgies Pope Francis Will Celebrate This Year

Dec 14, 2021

The Vatican has published Pope Francis’ Christmas schedule for this year.

St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican Media

Pope Francis Makes Several Temporary Changes to Vatican’s Chapter of St. Peter

Aug 28, 2021

The Chapter of St. Peter is group of retired priests who pray and assist in the basilica’s liturgical activities.

Cardinal Robert Sarah offers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for his 50th anniversary of priesthood in 2019. / Credit: Evandro Inetti/CNA.

African Cardinal Asks Pope Francis to Reinstate Individual Masses at St. Peter’s Basilica

Mar 29, 2021

Robert Cardinal Sarah has asked Pope Francis to reinstate the celebration of private Masses at the side altars in St. Peter’s Basilica, after individual Masses were suspended earlier this month in favor of concelebration.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica. / Credit: Luxerendering/Shutterstock.

St. Peter's Basilica to End Private Holy Masses, Restrict Masses in Extraordinary Form

Mar 13, 2021

A new letter from the Vatican Secretariat of State has banned the private celebration of Masses at side altars in St. Peter’s Basilica, effective March 22.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica Jan. 6, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

"If we do not worship God, we will worship idols": Pope Francis at Epiphany Mass

Jan 6, 2021

As he celebrated Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Wednesday, Pope Francis urged Catholics to devote more time to worshiping God.

A worker cleanses St. Peter's Basilica ahead of its reopening. Credit: Vatican Media (all photos)

St. Peter’s Basilica is Sanitized Ahead of Reopening to Public

May 15, 2020

Ahead of its eventual reopening to the public, St. Peter’s Basilica is being cleaned and sanitized at the direction of the Vatican’s health and hygiene department.

St. Peter's Basilica and square closed to public March 10, 2020. Credit: Hannah Brockhaus/CNA.

Italian Police Close St. Peter's Square to Public

Mar 10, 2020

The Italian police closed St. Peter’s Square Tuesday following the Italian government decree extending quarantine measures to all of Italy to slow the spread of coronavirus.