Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul in the Vatican

(29 June 2006) : Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the two of the principle Apostles of Jesus Christ, in the presence of thousands of faithful. After his homily the Pontiff placed palium on 27 Metropolitan Archbishop from various countries of the world.

The Universal Church honours Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who created what the Catholic Church is today. Under God's providential guidance and sanctified by their martyrdom, the centre of Catholicism radiates the preaching of the Gospel. St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in the year 66-67. His body was buried on the hill, on the very site where the basilica of St. Peter stands today. St. Paul was beheaded in the via Ostia on the spot where now stands the basilica of St. Paul outside the wall.

From the early centuries, Christians in thousands have gone on pilgrimage to the tombs of these two Apostles. From then on, the Catholic Church has spread all over the world. The Church celebrated on Thursday the ministries of these two great apostles and Church’s infallible truth and the teachings that they spread by the just exercise of their authority.