Under the Tuscan Spell

Our trip to Italy was coming to an end. In a way, we saved the best for last – Vatican City, the smallest state in the world packed to the brim with some of Christianity’s most sacred sites. The place where the Pope reigns supreme over state and soul.

Though Vatican City has only existed since 1929, its history dates back to the crucifixion of Peter in 64 AD and his burial in a Christian cemetery (necropolis) next to Nero’s Circus. In those days, Paganism was the official religion of Rome. Other belief systems such as Judaism and its spinoff, Christianity, were considered dangerous cults.

By the second century, many Jews and Christians were persecuted because they refused to worship the emperor or perform Pagan rituals. Their neighbors turned them in to “police,” and many times they were tortured, killed, and their property confiscated. Eventually, some Christians, especially those in the Western Empire, assimilated into Roman society and became soldiers.

When Constantine, returning from victories in Britain, met his rival, Maxentius, for control of the Western Roman Empire at the Tiber River in 312 AD, he saw a cross in the sky and heard the words:“With this sign, you shall conquer.” Being a “tolerant” leader with many brave Christian soldiers in his ranks, Constantine vowed to convert to Christianity if he were victorious. Maxentius drowned in the river, Constantine won, marched into Rome, and immediately converted to Christianity.

St. Peter’s Basilica and Piazza are in the center of The Vatican. St. Peter’s Basilica was completed in 1612. A few years later, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan declaring that Christians were no longer to be persecuted, tortured, or killed for their beliefs, and their previously–seized property was to be returned. Other religions were given the same rights.

The event that really nailed down the foundation for present–day Vatican City was in 325 AD when Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea. This conference of 300 Christian bishops adopted the Nicene Creed stating their beliefs, and the Roman Catholic Church was officially created. Christian celebrations were placed on the Roman calendar. Church and state were united, and anyone not accepting the new doctrine could be excommunicated. The College of Cardinals was legitimized as the hierarchy between the Pope and the priests, and given the right to select Popes.

Swiss Guards have provided security for The Vatican since 1506. Constantine started building a new church for the Pope over the site of Peter’s grave using stones from Nero’s Circus. The tomb of St. Peter was placed in the center of Constantine’s Basilica. Over the centuries, St. Peter’s Church expanded around the basilica in spite of attacks by barbarians and Saracens (Muslims).

When the papacy was moved to France between 1305 and 1377, St. Peter’s Church was abandoned. A major reconstruction in the mid–15th century was interrupted when the Eastern Empire fell to the Turks.

During the Renaissance, the Popes called on Rossellino, Raphael, Mich-elangelo, Giacomo, and Bernini to lend their skills to the new basilica, Sistine Chapel, piazza, and Vatican walls.

SPQR stands for “The Senate and the People of Rome.” It was emblazoned on the standards of the Roman legions. It also appears in the coat of arms of the present–day city of Rome and on most civic buildings. Manhole covers were placed in Rome on order of Mussolini, who apart from this use, started using SPQR on many other occasions as a way to make propaganda for his regime. Today, The Vatican is a recognized state with its own ruler, flag, coins, stamps, newspaper, and radio station. Seven hundred men and 200 women live in the Vatican. About 1,300 work there. Security has been provided by Swiss Guards since 1506.

(Next week: St. Peter’s Basilica)