In the early 2000s, interest in the figure of Paul of Tarsus was revitalized with sensational discoveries shedding new light on this important Apostle. The oldest portrait of the Apostle was found in the Roman catacombs of Santa Thecla, followed by the discovery of a marble sarcophagus beneath the papal altar in a basilica dating back to the author of thirteen epistles in the New Testament.
The Scientific Revelation
On June 29, 2009, during the closing of the Pauline Year, a profound revelation was made by Benedict XVI. Detailed scientific analysis of the tomb two thousand years after Paul’s birth revealed remnants of precious fabrics and bone fragments, confirming the tradition of the Apostle’s mortal remains.
An Untouched Tomb
Fifteen years after the announcement, the tomb remains untouched to preserve what was left of Paul’s body. The basilica houses the sarcophagus stones and a sacred flame burns continuously by the tomb.
Extramural Martyrdom
Details of Saint Paul’s beheading close to his burial site and the veneration of his chains are discussed by Father Ludovico Torrisi, emphasizing the martyrdom of the Apostle.
