The religious and historical importance of the Vatican
excavations–the “Necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica”–will
bring you to your knees. In the 1960’s the Vatican announced
with certainty that the tomb of Pete had been found–hidden away
for two thousand centuries in a place directly under the present
High Altar in the Basilica today! But this is no coincidence.
The excavations we saw beneath the Vatican in the SCAVI tour
were amazing. Here’s how the day went, and here’s why the
Vatican is certain that the grave is that of the Apostle Peter.
Jimmy and I were told to enter at the Holy Gate behind the
colonnade to the left of the Basilica. We got there early so as
not to miss a thing. There were lots of rules–ladies to wear
long skirts or pants, no bare shoulders, no open toed shoes and
no pictures during the tour. The Swiss guards were friendly but
absolutely refused to let us in until ten minutes before the
scheduled time. I tried to talk them into an exception, but they
paid absolutely no attention to my