But it seems to me no accident that Rome should become the centre of Christianity, or that we should be called Roman Catholics. Saul of Tarsus, or as we know him better – Saint Paul – was a Roman citizen, and a persecutor in a minor way of the early Christians, but he was the one whom God chose to become the great Apostle to the gentiles. And it is consistent with God’s mercy and generosity and love for us that, having sent His son to live and die for us, for our sins – past, present and future – that He inspired the great Apostles – Peter and Paul – to take the message of His love to the very people who carried out the execution of the Son of God, the Romans. And it was an inspired choice, because even if the Romans no longer flock to and fill the 901 churches of their city, they have certainly maintained gloriously the great shrines, the basilicas and the wonderful examples of Christian art for the rest of us.

The art of Rome is overwhelming; there is far too much to take in during one week, but Rome is full of marvellous works of praise to God, with sound liturgical thinking inspiring the art. The symbolism running through many of these works indicate a deep knowledge of Scripture. There are magnificent examples of high art, but the purpose was clearly stated by (in particular) the Jesuits, who aimed to promote the Catholic faith through the arts and sciences, as exemplified by the churches of Saint Ignazio di Loyola and Il Gesu. They were not built and decorated simply to be beautiful, they were created to demonstrate, and were dedicated to, the greater glory of God. Of course the City of Rome has also excavated swathes of pre-Christian architecture, much of it underneath the Christian churches – and what wisdom the early Christian displayed in borrowing the feast days of their pagan predecessors, and using the temple sites, instead of metaphorically bulldozing them. We have many reasons to be grateful to successive rulers of Rome and Italy for the care they have bestowed on thousands of examples of our Christian heritage which can serve to re-invigorate our faith if we are fortunate enough to have opportunity to walk in the steps of our Christian predecessors, our great Saints Peter and Paul, and so many others. Many may go to Rome for its art, but to those of us who call ourselves ‘Roman Catholics’ it is with pride and humility that “we ask some share in the fellowship of (your) apostles and martyrs”, who were themselves inspired by Christ’s Church in Rome.