The heads of Peter and Paul

[kesa82]

I just got through reading this book on the building of ST. Peter’s Basilica by R.A. Scotti. I have multiple questions so I guess I’ll have to make multible threads.

Anyway, it says that when the Imperial army of Charles V sacked Rome, the soldiers took the heads of Peter and Paul out of the Reliquaries at ST. John Lateran and played ball with them.

Did I read that correctly, the heads of Peter and Paul?

• THE Peter and Paul?

Did they retrieve the heads and do they still have them?

Many thick books have been written on whether the Shroud of Turin is real or fake. Are there likewise thick books ( I love thick, detailed books, yum , yum ) in a similar vein on the heads of Peter and Paul and/or on Peter’s tomb?

Perhaps I should say here that it makes no difference to me whether the shroud is real or fake, whether a piece of the true cross is really a piece of the true cross , and if you could prove to me that Peter was buried in a ditch 6 miles away and dogs disposed of his bones two weeks later, it would in no way diminish my interest in or reverence for the tomb of saint Peter or these other relics. The significance of relics to me lies in something else - but that’s the subject for another thread. Anyway, my interest is intellectual interest.

Now if I can fit one more question here ;
In this same book it says that this Basilica of ST John Lateran is - or was - the oldest church in Rome and is - or was - the actual seat of the Bishop of Rome.
Now I’m confused. What does that make ST. Peter’s then ? Strictly the shrine of Saint Peter? A really big really fancy parish church ? An extra seat for the Pope ? what ? Does this ST. John Lateran still exist? Where in Rome would it be?

 

[Nechasin]

St. John Lateran does still exist and it is the actual Seat of the Pope (Bishop of Rome) The Pope moved to the Vatican because it was easier to defend. St. John Lateran about mile east of the Coliseum in Rome. As far as the rest of your questions, I don’t know the answer.

 

[Fidei_Defensor]

No, Saints Peter and Paul are buried in their respective basilicas in Rome (Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica, Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls).

St. John Lateran is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, so this is the Pope’s seat as Bishop of Rome.

From Wikipedia: “Although the Vatican basilica is not the Pope’s official ecclesiastical seat (Saint John Lateran), it is most certainly his principal church, as most Papal ceremonies take place at St Peter’s due to its size, proximity to the Papal residence, and location within the Vatican City walls.”

 

[rowlands]

Many years ago there appeared a book about archeological excavations around the supposed tomb of Saint Peter - called ‘The Bones of Saint Peter’. I never read it, I only glanced through it and it appeared interesting. This looks to be an on line version of the same book: it may be good or it may be bad (i.e. spurious or false - I don’t know).

stpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/JW/TheBonesofStPeter-1.htm