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Private Tours of the Vatican Museums

Urbi e Orbi: To the City and to the World

8/7/2019

 
Private Tours of the Vatican Museums
Benediction loggia, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Benediction loggia

Twice a year, at Easter and at Christmas, the pope steps out onto the Benediction Loggia of St Peter's Basilica to deliver his blessing Urbi e Orbi (to the City and to the World). The only other occasion on which the pope will impart this blessing is on being elected pontiff. 

The sculpture beneath the loggia depicts Christ Consigning the Keys to Peter (1612) and is the signed work of Ambrogio Buonvicino (c. 1552-1622). The scene illustrates the words of St Matthew's Gospel: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (16:19 KJV)

St Peter the Apostle is recognised by the Roman Catholic Church as its first pope. 

Christ Consigning the Keys to Peter by Ambrogio Buonvicino, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Christ Consigning the Keys to Peter by Ambrogio Buonvicino

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    Blogging about the Vatican 

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England.

    Since 200I I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ private tours of Florence, Rome &
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  • Private Tours
    • Private Tours of Rome
    • Private Tours of Florence
    • Private Tours of Venice
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Tuscany
  • Gallery
  • Year in Art