The Catholic Church
After St Peter and St Paul were martyred in the city, and the first Christians began to arrive, Rome became Christian, and the St. Peter's Basilica was first constructed in 313 AD. Rome has been the home of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome (otherwise known as the pope) ever since. (Karabenick, 1963)
The church sustained the city after Constantine moved the empire's capital to Istanbul. The city was in ruins, and the bishop of Rome took control in a vacuum.
Through the dark ages, the church sustained the small population (less than 20,000) in the city and was the most influential figure during that time. Rome was also kept afloat because it served as a major pilgrimage site for devout Catholics.
During the Renaissance, the Church began to restore Rome and more and more came to the city to study the classics make their pilgrimages. Roman popes reconstructed ruined Roman aqueducts, fountains and monuments. The new St. Peters Basilica was also built during this time, along with the Sistine Chapel.
When King Immanuel's troops entered Rome in 1871 to complete its process of unifying the new Italian state, the Vatican refused to acknowledge this loss of power to the new government, and the pope remained in his residence in protest for years. The Vatican was granted sovereignty in 1929 by Mussolini, and became an independent state as it remains today.
The church sustained the city after Constantine moved the empire's capital to Istanbul. The city was in ruins, and the bishop of Rome took control in a vacuum.
Through the dark ages, the church sustained the small population (less than 20,000) in the city and was the most influential figure during that time. Rome was also kept afloat because it served as a major pilgrimage site for devout Catholics.
During the Renaissance, the Church began to restore Rome and more and more came to the city to study the classics make their pilgrimages. Roman popes reconstructed ruined Roman aqueducts, fountains and monuments. The new St. Peters Basilica was also built during this time, along with the Sistine Chapel.
When King Immanuel's troops entered Rome in 1871 to complete its process of unifying the new Italian state, the Vatican refused to acknowledge this loss of power to the new government, and the pope remained in his residence in protest for years. The Vatican was granted sovereignty in 1929 by Mussolini, and became an independent state as it remains today.
During World War II, Rome declared itself an "open city" to
avoid damage to its many monuments and long history. None of the players wanted to upset the world by attacking the Catholic Church, so the Allies took great pains to avoid any severe bombing of the city. (Karabenick, 1963) The Year of the Jubilee 2000 created huge changes and updates in modern Rome. The latest naming of the new Pope - the first from Latin America - has many Roman businesses excited for new tourism from that part of the world. (Speciale, 2013) |
|