St Paul’s Outside the Walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura) has the newest building of Rome’s four major basilicas, having been reconsecrated following a fire in 1823.  Its colourful cloister, however, has survived from the 13th Century.  St Paul’s is the largest church in Italy and can accommodate up to 8,000 people standing.

In a tour organised as part of our 60th anniversary course in October, participants were led through the nave and had the opportunity to pray the Lord’s Prayer at the tomb of St Paul. Our guide, Don Ludovico, remarked how the word necropolis (city of the dead) changed to cemetery (sleeping place) in Christian tradition, thus holding out the hope of eternal life.

The seat of King Charles III, as Royal Confrater at the basilica, is also displayed.  Created for the (now reciprocated) conferral of the title during the State Visit to the Vatican in October 2025, the seat will be used by the King and his heirs and successors on future visits.

Following the tour, Fr Martin Browne OSB (from the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity) discussed the progress of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission dialogues with participants.  The Commission’s work follows on from the Common Declaration at St Paul’s by Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope St Paul VI in March 1966.

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