Bones attributed to St Peter found by chance in 1,000-year-old church in Rome

[Peter1469]

Bones attributed to St Peter found by chance in 1,000-year-old church in Rome

I imagine that there are a lot of ancient finds just waiting to be found.

Bones attributed to St. Peter have been found by chance in a church in Rome during routine restoration work, 2,000 years after the apostle’s death.


The relics of the saint, who is regarded as the first Pope, were found in clay pots in the 1,000-year-old Church of Santa Maria in Cappella in the district of Trastevere, a medieval warren of cobbled lanes on the banks of the Tiber River.


The bones were discovered when a worker lifted up a large marble slab near the medieval altar of the church, which has been closed to the public for 35 years because of structural problems.


He came across two Roman-era pots with inscriptions on their lids indicating that inside were not only bone fragments from St Peter but also three early popes – Cornelius, Callixtus and Felix – as well as four early Christian martyrs.

[Mister D]

Saw that on EWTN (Catholic network) last night. Cool. stuff. They are going to compare them to other remains thought to be of St. Peter.

[Peter1469]

Saw that on EWTN (Catholic network) last night. Cool. stuff. They are going to compare them to other remains thought to be of St. Peter.

It would be interesting to see the results.

[Mister D]

It would be interesting to see the results.

For sure.

[DGUtley]

I also saw it on EWTN. Cool story.

[Standing Wolf]

Fascinating if they could be authenticated. Unfortunately, for more than a thousand years there was a thriving trade in "holy relics" - everything from thorns from Jesus' crown to splinters from the true cross to the Holy Grail - and bones and bone fragments from various saints were a very popular part of that trade.