Alright, so like, archaeologists recently dug up some old stuff in Rome, and it’s pretty cool. They found ruins of this ancient palace where popes used to chill before the Vatican was even a thing. The place was all hidden and stuff, giving us a peek into what life was like back in medieval Rome. The discoveries shed light on the struggles the papacy faced way back when.
The archaeologists found these huge walls outside the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, dating all the way back to the 9th century AD. These walls were made of volcanic rock bricks and were part of the popes’ residence from the 4th century till the early 14th century. Emperor Constantine designed this grand basilica in the 4th century after Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire.
The palace complex went through some renovations during the Middle Ages, serving as a defense against power struggles among Rome’s rich families and Saracen raids. The term ‘Saracens’ was used for Arab groups that raided Italy in the 9th and 10th centuries. The walls found were believed to have been a defensive barrier to protect the papacy during these tumultuous times.
The Italian Ministry of Culture was all excited about these discoveries, calling them a big deal for Rome’s history. Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Culture Minister, was all like, “Yo, this is some cool stuff we found here. It tells us a lot about our past.” The excavation in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano was the most extensive in the area, uncovering some pretty fascinating secrets.
After the papal seat moved to the Vatican in 1377, the old defensive structures were no longer needed, so the area was abandoned. Fast forward to today, we got a new pope in town, Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American to take the throne. He’s a bit more traditional than the previous pope, but not a total hardliner. Born in Chicago in 1955, this guy’s got a mix of French, Italian, and Spanish blood running through his veins.
After graduating from Villanova University, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine and eventually became a priest. He spent time in Peru leading a seminary before being elected as the new pope. Stepping out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he greeted the crowd with cheers and probably felt pretty darn good about himself.
So, like, these discoveries in Rome are pretty awesome, right? It’s crazy to think about how these ancient walls stood the test of time and protected the papacy back in the day. Who knew there was so much history buried beneath the surface? Not really sure why this matters, but hey, it’s cool to learn about our past, right?
