Vatican will display relics of St. Peter for first time ever, to mark end of the Year of Faith

The Vatican announced that, for the first time in history, it will publicly display the relics of St. Peter, the very first Pope and original Bishop of Rome. It'll be a unique exhibit to mark the conclusion of the Year of Faith. Msgr. Rino Fisichella, president for the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, made the announcement in an editorial published in the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. The Apostle's remains will leave the Vatican Grotto for the celebrations, but exact details are not yet clear.

The tomb of St. Peter, located under the altar of the Vatican basilica, was unearthed during excavations in the mid-20the century. In 1968, after extensive research and testing, Pope Paul VI announced that relics of St. Peter had been identified. These relics have been kept in the grotto of the basilica, and never placed on public display.

The Year of Faith concludes on November 24, the feast of Christ the King. On November 21, Pope Francis will visit a cloistered monastery in Rome. On the 23, he will meet with cathechumens inside St. Peter's Basilica. The Year of Faith will conclude on Sunday, the 24th, with the Pope celebrating Mass at St. Peter's Square