A delegation of members of the Buea Diocesan group join some Pilgrims to Pray at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican last week. Walking in the footsteps of the Saints, pilgrims of the Diocese of Buea, observing day two of their spiritual journey in Rome, convened at St. Peter’s Basilica this 4th day of May 2024, to pray for themselves, their Diocese and their country Cameroon.Rev. Fr. Epie Emmanuel, while celebrating the Eucharist, urged pilgrims to take every challenge as part of their cross which Jesus calls on all to carry always and follow Him.
Celebrating the mass of St. Peter, at the tomb of St. Peter, the celebrant, told pilgrims that the pilgrimage gives them an opportunity to feel the experiences of the early Christians and Apostles while strengthening their faith. He invited them to hold on to their belief stating that the abuse of Christianity does not take away the use. Following the Eucharistic celebration, pilgrims visited St. Peter’s Square; a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome.
Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, the first Pope.They equally had a guided tour in the Basilica of St. Peter where among other historic sites, they had the opportunity to see the real dead body of St John the 23rd.The pilgrims later visited the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. This Basilica is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas, along with the basilicas of Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter’s, and Saint Mary Major, as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Another stop was made at the Three fountains established in honor of St. Paul who was beheaded in a place called Acquas Salvias outside the Aurline wall.
This place is now called Three Fountains because St. Paul’s head bounced three times on the ground, and three miraculous fountains sprung up from the earth. This sacred place of Christian pilgrimage is well-known for its artistic works.It is worth noting that the visit to the Vatican City by pilgrims of the Diocese of Buea, is one of the activities marking the celebration of the 75th anniversary of canonical erection of the diocese. The Vatican is the Centre of Christianity since the foundation of Saint Peter’s Basilica by Constantine, and at a later stage the permanent seat of the Popes.
The Vatican is at the pre-eminently holy city for Catholics, an important archaeological site of the Roman world and one of the major cultural references.
