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Follow us on our trip into the world’s smallest country, Vatican City, a city-state that consists of just 0.17 square miles and is completely surrounded by the City of Rome. Surprisingly, there aren’t metal detectors and security checks to get into St. Peter’s Basilica per se, just to gain access to St. Peter’s Square. We waited in a security line for about 20 minutes. Almost everybody “beeped” as they went through the metal detectors, but nobody was stopped or put through additional screening, such as wanding. In other words, it was really just security theater.
Once inside the Square, anyone could move anywhere they desired and even enter St. Peter’s with no additional precautions. Overall, the crowd was very happy and exceedingly polite, and we didn’t notice any altercations. The guards seem to enjoy barking orders, like “Move along!” “Up! Up! Do not sit there!” “Don’t go there,” and “No sitting.” You will see in the photos why that last one is so ironic.
Everyone was waiting to see the Pope at the Noon Blessing and Angelus. Until then, it was sitting and waiting and taking photos. The statues on the colonnades – all 140 of them – watch everything you do. When there was activity at “the apartment window” to hang the Papal Coat of Arms, everybody came to attention and got ready. When Pope Leo appeared, there was applause and yelling. He spoke in Italian and Latin. During his presentation we tried to use Google Translate to see what he was saying. Strangely enough, Google Translate indicates that it can’t translate Latin from voice input. But it didn’t give us any Italian translations during those passages either. There were Jumbotrons for people to see him up close, as he was a tiny dot high above the square. The screens did say before the event that we could get a translation into our own language if we downloaded their app, but we didn’t try that.
Afterwards, people lined up to enter St. Peter’s. In our travels through Europe, the most grandiose and largest churches and cathedrals charge admission and control the number of entries per hour. Not here! Here comes everybody! All were able to enter free of charge in a line that kept moving. Once inside, you are able to roam around at your own pace. Some areas are roped off, but what is overwhelming is the number of domes (11) and the sheer amount of decorated ceilings, walls, and floors. One’s jaw drops. Just amazing. So, journey with us. The photos are more or less in chronological order from arrival to departure, three hours later. It is one of the best free attractions in the world.
St. Peter’s Basilica as seen from St. Peter’s Square. There was a blockade around the chairs, which are temporary, but were not being used. For so many people sitting on the ground, they would have felt like heaven itself.
A recognizable feature of St. Peter’s Square is this ancient Egyptian monument moved to the Square in 1586, originally in the Circus of Caligula and Nero and topped with an orb. The orb has been replaced with a cross.
Some of the statues watching us, along with a Jumbotron depicting the Pope’s Coat of Arms.
A corner detail honoring Pope Alexander VII. After his name is “PM,” or Pontiff Maximus, a phrase we saw countless times in this country.
A view of one side of the Square and its colonnade (and its statues!)
This sculpture of refugees in a boat, called “Angels Unaware” (by Canadian Timothy Schmalz), was unveiled by Pope Francis in 2019. It is dedicated to migrants and refugees around the world. (Notice its use as a bench!)
Believe it or not, this is the country’s – Post Office! Right in the Square!
A marker of the northwest wind, part of a group of 16 marble markers denoting a specific compass point and the associated wind name.
Pope Leo appeared at noon to applause and a roaring “Hello!”
The Jumbotron shows some of the gathered crowd. The Pope appeared in the second window from the right in the tall building that intersects with the obelisk.
The Swiss Guard, all snazzy in their 1914 uniforms, designed in the Medici Family colors: red, dark blue, and yellow.Recruits must be Catholic, hold Swiss citizenship, and be of irreproachable character and health.
The ceiling of the portico as you enter the Basilica.
This is the ceiling motif throughout the church. You are always looking UP!
One of the 11 domes.
Statues line the walls – along with gold!
Statues of former popes are popular and ubiquitous.
It’s hard to see from the ground, but this dome is filled with angels, people, trees, water – etc.
Quite a dramatic scene, but because the Basilica isn’t an actual museum, not everything is explained or named. Do notice, however, the popes on either side.
Even though this dome looks like a previous one, it is different.
This one also is different.
It is interesting to capture two aisles and several different ceilings.
A monument to Pope Gregory XVI.Too bad the women “attending” him couldn’t be popes!
How magnificent is this?!??
Pope John XXIII. The mask they made doesn’t look much like him, though.
Bernini’s magnificent “Baldachin,” a decorative canopy just in front of the Main Altar. It marks the spot of St. Peter’s tomb directly underneath, and took 11 years to complete.
Over the Baldachin is the main dome, by Michelangelo. It is the largest and tallest in the world, weighing in at a whopping 14,000 tons.
Another view with fascinating angles.
The original Main Altar behind the Baldachin.
A tribute to St. Andrew.
Another of the domes.
Monument and Tomb of Pope Alexander VII, a Baroque sculpture by Bernini.It is hard to see, but front and center is a skeleton emerging from a shroud with an hourglass.
Just a side altar. As we have noted with other very ornate churches, the windows are not stained glass – there is too much competition from the decoration!
More statues of popes.
We occasionally look DOWN – a floor inlay dedicated to Pope Clement VIII. Note that this time (with more room!), it says “Pont Max” instead of just PM.
“They fell down and worshipped him alive” is the phrase in the middle of the dome. HOW can you see that from below??
This also says something in the dome, but can’t be seen even with enlargement.
So, everyone (okay, the older folks) was looking for somewhere to sit. This is the irony we are talking about! Chairs, chairs, everywhere – and not a one you can use!
Oooooo – two domes!
Looking down once more – John Paul II had this inlay installed in 1994. It translates as, “All yours.” Amen!
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