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St. Peter's Basilica: Confessio

Confessio

The Confessio, a 17th-century sunken chapel honoring the confession of St. Peter that led to his martyrdom on Vatican Hill. His tomb is behind the Niche of the Pallium, the illuminated part seen in this photo. The niche contains a silver coffer with fabrics (each known as a "pallium") woven from the wool of lambs blessed on the feast of St. Agnes (Jan 21) and given to patriarchs and metropolitans as a reminder of the Church's unity.