Chiesa.com: Pilgrims at the Tomb of Peter. As in Ancient Rome

Sandro Magister has a fascinating post in Chiesa.com about the necropolis uncovered beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica.

When the emperor Constantine built the basilica, in the fourth century, he wanted the apse to be set right above the tomb of the apostle. And to bring the nave up to the same level, he had covered with earth all of the tombs that, after Peter's, sloped gently down toward the Tiber river. In the 16th century, a larger basilica, the current one, was built in place of Constantine's, and at a higher level. In any case, for sixteen centuries no one excavated beneath the floor of the basilica.

It was Pius XII, in 1939, who began the archaeological exploration. And in a few years the digging uncovered not only the tomb of Peter, beneath the main altar of the basilica, but also 22 other tombs lined up along the ancient road, for a stretch of about 70 meters, about 10 meters beneath the central nave of the church.

In 1998, the Vatican authorities ordered an assessment and restoration of the necropolis uncovered beneath St. Peter's basilica.

This is a fascinating story of history and faith. Read it here.