Monday, 18 November 2013

Record of the Week: Toronto Visits St. Peter's

On this day in 1626, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome was dedicated by Pope Urban VIII exactly 1300 years after the dedication of the original St. Peter's by Pope Sylvester I.

For almost a millennium and a half, St. Peter's has been a popular destination for Catholics from all over the world who go to admire and be inspired by the architecture and art. Toronto Catholics are no exception. Below are a few items from the Archives which document a few visits by Toronto Ordinaries to the famous basilica:


A document certifying that the 'Illustrious and Reverend Joseph Lynch, Bishop of Toronto' visited Pope Pius IX at the 'Basilica of the Principle Apostle' on the 9th day of June, 1862. 

Cardinal McGuigan posing in St. Peter's Square
An undated photograph of delegates to the Second Vatican Council from the back of St. Peter's facing the Holy Father.  Cardinal McGuigan and Archbishop Pocock both served as Council Fathers. 

A cardboard model of St. Peter's Dome created and donated to ARCAT by Fr. Joseph Fenech 

To visit St. Peter's Basilica without leaving your keyboard, check out the virtual tour on the Vatican website.

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