The Papacy: The Bones of The Fisherman

THE PAPACY

Pope Paul VI last week announced that some bones unearthed during excavations under St. Peter's Basilica were, in his judgment, those of Peter the Apostle, the Galilean fisherman whom Roman Catholics consider the founder of the Church of Rome. "The relics of St. Peter," declared Paul, "have been identified in a manner which we believe convincing." He based his conclusion on the fact that "very patient and accurate investigations were made with the result which we believe positive, encouraged by the judgment of worthy and competent persons."

The site of the investigations was beside an altar of the original basilica, built...

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