A webcam overlooking the tomb of the Apostle Peter will be installed in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the jubilee Holy Year 2025 - Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of the basilica, announced one of the new things related to the Holy Year at a press conference on Monday.
This is the first time that a camera has been installed at one of the most important sites of the Catholic Church, and not for security reasons, but so that the apostle's tomb can be seen on the Internet from anywhere in the world.
The webcam will be put into operation on the first of December, and Pope Francis will be the first to try it out. The camera will show the tomb of St. Peter, which is located under the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of the basilica, who is also the general vicar of the pope in Vatican City and the head of the office that maintains the basilica, told the press that with the help of the camera, not only the 30 million pilgrims waiting to come to Rome for the Holy Year can enjoy the experience of getting close to the to the tomb of the apostle.
Those who do not have the opportunity to get to Rome will be able to see the tomb from anywhere in the world via the Internet, which also gives them the opportunity to pray or leave a message on the page attached to the camera.
We want to provide a mass experience - said Cardinal Gambetti. A web camera will also be placed on the so-called Holy Gate of St. Peter's Basilica, which the Pope will open at the beginning of the Holy Year, on the night of December 24, and on which
pilgrims coming to the Vatican will pass through for a year.
At the press conference, the Holy Year initiatives of the Fabbrica di San Pietro office, which maintains St. Peter's Basilica, were detailed. The zeroth issue of the new magazine Szent Péter Square was presented, which will be available at the square's information point and also available online. The cardinal emphasized that the magazine "wants to be a modern magazine of globalization.
The goal is to make St. Peter's Square and the basilica located there not only believers feel like their home, but to be a meeting point for everyone.
They want to write about the most current social issues, and plan to distribute the paper at train stations, airports and schools.
The title of the monthly magazine was personally chosen by Pope Francis, and in each issue the Pope responds to a reader's letter.
It is a novelty that a new computer font named St. Peter's Basilica will be introduced from the beginning of the Holy Year. This new font will also be used on the site of St. Peter's Basilica, which was renovated two weeks ago (basilicasanpietro.va), which also invites visitors to the portal to take a three-dimensional, virtual walk.
Father Enzo Fortunato, the communications director of the basilica, added that in addition to the press room in the sanctuary, the basilica also provides a separate work center for the press.
Social networking sites will also play a prominent role in the communication of the New Year.
MTI
Cover image: St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
Source: Wikipedia