Pope john paul xxiii statue
Pope paul vi
Pope john paul vi.
Chapel of Saint Leo the Great
St. Peter's Basilica is honored by containing the tomb and mortal remains of its famous son, the pope St. Leo the Great (440-461), incomparable defender of Church doctrine against heresies.
His writings, the Homilies, in classical style are still as current as ever. He was called the "Savior of the West", even though he could not prevent the sack of Rome by the Vandals in 455.
Above the altar where he is buried, there is a majestic, high-relief marble portrait of Leo the Great as he met Attila the Hun, the scourge of god, near Mantua.
The Pope's words were convincing, Attila was persuaded not to attack Rome.
Pope john paul xxiii statue
He told his troops that when the Pope spoke he saw the threatening figures of Peter and Paul with drawn swords before him. The sculpture was done by Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654) and is the only high relief of this type in the Basilica.
The Chapel of the Madonna of the Column
After the chapel dedicated to St. Leo the Great, beneath the s