What is the chair the pope sits on called?
The Chair of Saint Peter (Latin: Cathedra Petri), also known as the Throne of Saint Peter, is a relic conserved in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the sovereign enclave of the Pope inside Rome, Italy.
Is there a hole in the pope’s chair?
There is no gender test. Chairs with a large hole cut in the seat are sometimes thought to have been used to check the sex of a new Pope. The story goes that the aim of the checks was to prevent a repeat of the scandal of “Pope Joan”, a legendary female cardinal supposedly elected pope in the 14th Century.
Who carries the Sedia Gestatoria?
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII is carried through St. Peter’s Basilica on a sedia gestatoria.
What is the pope’s chair made of?
In consultation with officials from the World Meeting of Families and the Philadelphia archdiocese, the company decided to go with its Catena chair, a piece made of Western Pennsylvania cherry and ash from the Northeast, and customized it for the pope, fitting it with a white cushion.
Who was the best pope ever?
Pope Innocent III (Latin: Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death. Pope Innocent was one of the most powerful and influential of the medieval popes.
Does the Pope have a gold throne?
The most glamorous throne in the world floats in a golden sky in St Peter’s, the papal basilica in the Vatican. It is the Chair of Saint Peter, a relic encased by Bernini in the 17th century in gilt bronze and set aloft among shafts of golden metal light and swarming putti.
What’s at the bottom of the Vatican?
The Vatican Necropolis lies under the Vatican City, at depths varying between 5–12 metres below Saint Peter’s Basilica. The necropolis was not originally one of the Catacombs of Rome, but an open air cemetery with tombs and mausolea.