Papal Basilica Of St. Paul Outside The Walls: Apostle To The Gentiles

The Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls stands on site where it is held in tradition that Apostle Paul was buried, having been beheaded by sword as a Roman citizen, his blood mingling with soil that had been watered by the blood of so many martyrs. This magnificent church, next to St. Peter’s in size and importance, offers pilgrims a rich experience of apostle of the Gentiles and his legacy of evangelizing the Roman world. The religious nature of the basilica is guided by its association with Paul’s missionary fervor and his writings that continue to motivate Christians to this day.

To be here in this basilica is to be here in the presence of one who was “blameless” under the Law but counted “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).Spiritually, this basilica is significant because it mirrors its connection with Paul, through whose steadfast efforts to establish Christian communities throughout Mediterranean, the universal Church was established.

The basilica’s cloister contains archaeological remains of 4th-century church built by Emperor Constantine, allowing pilgrims to connect with historical roots of Christian practice on this site. As one walks through the cloister, with its elegant twin columns and peaceful garden, it is easy to imagine monks who have prayed here for centuries, their lives a testament to contemplative dimension of faith that Paul so eloquently expressed in his letters.

The cloister serves as a reminder that Christian life is a life of prayer and contemplation, a “race” which must be run with perseverance (1 Corinthians 9:24).The interior of the basilica is adorned by a set of mosaics depicting all popes from Peter to current pontiff, creating a visual portrayal of the continuity of apostolic succession. This artistic element is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the Church through centuries of ferment and change, and of Christ’s promise to be with his Church until the end of the world. Gazing upon the portraits of the popes, one sees an account of human frailty and divine mercy, of sinners called to be saints, of ordinary men reshaped by the extraordinary weight of Petrine office.

The vacant niches for the future popes remind us that the Church will continue to exist until Christ returns, guided by  Holy Spirit working through human agents. The greatest spiritual jewel in the basilica is tomb of Paul, which is located under high altar. A recent archaeological discovery confirmed the presence of a 4th-century sarcophagus carrying an inscription that it contains the remains of the apostle. For pilgrims to this sacred location, the capability to pray over the tomb of the missionary apostle induces a feeling of profound affinity with the origin of their religion and with universal mission of the Church.

The golden mosaics in golden marble canopy over tomb, depicting images from the life of Paul, serve visually to remind us of how he was transformed from a Church persecutor into its eventual champion, a transformation that testifies to power of God’s grace to change even hardest of hearts. There is also housed in basilica a Benedictine monastery that has offered unbroken prayer on this soil for over one thousand years. Pilgrims can accompany the Liturgy of the Hours with the monks, partaking in centuries of prayer rhythm that has sanctified this earth day and night.

It tastes contemplative side of Christian spirituality with sharing the monastic tradition of prayer, reminding pilgrims of mission of Church: prayer and communion with God. The monastic chanting of psalms, a tradition dating back to time of Paul himself, summons an timeless atmosphere that connects modern era with the long-lost past, the material with the divine.