Rome's Four Patriarchal, or Papal, Basilicas

A video guide of the four major Basilicas of Rome you must visit to complete a Papal pilgrimage.

The main distinction of the Papal Basilicas is that they each have a special "holy door". These doors are only opened during Jubilee years. All one's sins will be forgiven if one manages to go through each of these doors within one day in one of these holy years. Unfortunately the last Jubilee was in the year 2000, so the next holy year is still 13 years away.

The only ones allowed to celebrate Mass in these basilicas are the Pope or those especially delegated by the Pope.

"Major Basilica" is the title given to the four highest-ranking Roman Catholic churches:

ST. PETER'S BASILICA

This building replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", a Romanesque structure begun by Constantine in 323 on the site of the crucifixion of St. Peter. The obelisk which stands in the middle of St. Peter's square originally stood in Nero's circus, having been brought to Rome in 40 AD by Caligula and was thus witness to the deaths of numerous Christian martyrs, including St. Peter. It was moved to its current location in 1586. The present Basilica was constructed between 1506 and 1667.

Virtual Tour:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/vr_tour/index-en.html

BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR

This is the only one of the patriarchal basilicas to retain its original structure, although it has been embellished and added on to over the centuries. It is believed to be the oldest church in the west dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lovely legend of Our Lady of the Snows is associated with the construction of this church.

Virtual Tour:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/vr_tour/index-en.html

BASILICA OF ST. JOHN LATERAN

The first basilica was dedicated on this site in the early 300s. From that time until the 1300s, it was the principal residence of the popes. It is still officially the seat of the Patriarch of Rome. The current church dates from the 17th century.

Virtual Tour:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

BASILICA OF ST. PAUL'S OUTSIDE THE WALLS

The site of St. Paul's martyrdom, originally outside the city of Rome. A first, rather small, basilica was built by Constantine around 320. A larger basilica, built in 390, was destroyed by fire in 1823. The current basilica is intended to replicate the original structure.

You also may want to take an online virtual tour of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. (This is also the basilica with the famous portraits of all the popes on the walls.)

Virtual Tour:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_paolo/index_en.html

Видео Rome's Four Patriarchal, or Papal, Basilicas канала TheJavierClan