Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls – Rome, Italy - Atlas Obscura
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Rome, Italy

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

One of Catholicism's four major basilicas has a series of papal portraits that are said to predict the end of the world. 

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls Antoine Taveneaux on Wikipedia (Creative Commons)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls ho visto nina volare on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls Steve Moses on Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Chain - According to tradition, bound St Paul to the Roman soldiers guarding him during his house arrest while awaiting his trial. During that period he continued to teach and write. "Remember my chains!" (Colossians 4:18). Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Papal Altar On the wall at both sides of the Altar, Six Large Stone Plaques on the wall (4 partially hides) carry the names of the cardinals and bishops present in Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception who then accompanied Pope Pius IX when he consecrated the new basilica on 10 December 1854. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Statue of Saul (Paul) with the sword, it was the instrument of his martyrdom and symbolizes the Word of God which Paul was a herald and tireless preacher (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) On his left hand he holds the book of Epistles that make him the first and foremost theologian of Christianity. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Mosaic on the Facade was designs by Consoni and Agricola (1854-1874). Fragements of an earlier mosaic by Canallini (13th century) saved from the fire in 1823. The lower section are 4 prophets of the old testament - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, symbolizing the 4,000 years that preceded the coming of the Messiah. Middle section, the centre of the scene is dominated by the figure of the sacrificial Lamb whose death causes the waters of salvation to flow the four quarters of the world. Redemption made available to all nations. On the other side stand the two symbolic cities, on the left Bethlehem, and on the right Jerusalem, where respectively, Christ began and completed his earthly life. The figure of Christ is enthroned in the tympanum at the summit. At his side, in slightly lower position, are Sts Peter and Paul (right) of the city of Rome. Photo taken by Francis L T YEO Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Symbolism of the hand of Christ Three fingers represent the Trinity and the other two the two-folded nature, divine and human, of Jesus Christ. In the incarnate Word, divinity and humanity are joined together. Photo (cropped) taken by Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
The MOSAIC in the APSE is of exceptional dimensions (24 m x 12 m) and is the work of Venetian masters who were working at St. Mark's in Vience (1220-1227). Between the 16th and 19th centuries it was the subject of restorations. The iconography and technique are inspired by the Byzantine tradition. At the centre: on the two sides of the head of the majestic fiqure of Christ the Pantocrator are the Greek Letters IC and XC that abbreviate the name of Jesus Christ and always accompany him in Byzantine art. On 29 September 1963, in the presence of bishops of the second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI referred to the mosaic. Using it to describe the universal quality of their meeting, he said: "Christ presides over and blesses the assembly gathered in the basilica which is the Church. This scene is reflected in our assembly." Photo(cropped) taken by Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Monumental Statue of St. Paul (Salvatore Revelli) with the sword, it was the instrument of his martyrdom and symbolizes the Word of God which Paul was a herald and tireless preacher (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) On his left hand he holds the book of Epistles that make him the first and foremost theologian of Christianity. On the centre: Easter candelabrum. This candelabrum is one of the finest pieces of Roman sculpture of the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, sculpted in 1170 by Petro Vassalletto and Nicolo d Angelo. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
The Altar of the Conversion of St. Paul, by Vincenzo Camuccini (Early 19th Century). Paul was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission to "arrest Christian and bring them back to Jerusalem" when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a great light. He was struck blind but, after three days, his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus, and Paul began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
The triumphal Arch in honour of St. Paul, "doctor of the nations" was begun by the emperor Theodosius in the year 386 and completed by his son Honorius. Accoding to the inscription placed above: TEODOSIUS CEPIT PERFECIT ONORIUS..." (Theordosius initiated and honorius finished the Church). The mosiaic was given by Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius, on the occasion of the restoration promoted by Pope Leo the Great following the earthquake of 442. The inscription on the arch reads: "PLACIDIAE PIA MENS .....CAVDET PONTIFICIS ....LEONIS"(Placidia rejoices to see the work of her father shine forth in all its beauty, thanks to the zeal of Pope Leo). Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
On the top row is the Symbols of the four Evangelists. Centre is Christ. 3rd row are the 24 elders of the Apocalypse. 4 row left is St. Paul and right side St. Peter. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
On the top row is the Symbols of the four Evangelists. Centre is Christ. 3rd row are the 24 elders of the Apocalypse. 4 row left is St. Paul and right side St. Peter. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Left Luke, Paul, Christ, Peter and Andrew. If you could zoom in and see their names written. Bottom are the 12 Apsotles. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
Pope Honorius III who commissioned the mosaic is shown as a small white figure, prostrate at the right foot of Christ (beside him are the words HONORIUS PP III. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
The Nave and Four Aisles. On the right side (out of photo) were the tombs of the fourth - sixth century. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)
On the open book in Christ's hand are written the words of judgement: "Come, blessed of the Father, and recieve the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world." The scrolls of Peter and Paul witness to their faith: that of Paul says:"at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow down in heaven, on earth and under the earth" Peter's says: "you are the Christ, the son of the living God." St. Luke the biograpgher of Paul who wrote the book of Acts. Photo taken by: Francis L T Yeo Francis LT YEO (Atlas Obscura User)

Built in the 4th century, this massive Roman church has undergone centuries of change and expansion, and along the way has become home to a series of pope pictures that are said to herald the end of the world should they be completed.

Along with the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls is one of the four highest ranking churches in the Catholic hierarchy. It was originally erected by Roman Emperor Constantine I, supposedly over the grave of Saint Paul himself. The basilica itself managed to retain its original primitive if ornate architectural design for centuries after its construction. Unfortunately a devastating fire swept through the ancient church nearly destroying the entire site.

However the site was quickly refurbished thanks to multinational donations of building supplies such as alabaster and lapis, which allowed for many of the original ornamentations, both architectural and otherwise to be recreated in a close approximation of the original.

One of the features which was restored after the fire was a row of papal friezes that took up a single row above the 80 columns in the main hall. A commissioned artist reproduced almost all of the popes that once filled the medallions, making up the visages of some whose portraits were lost. However, since there is just the single row of medallions ringing the church interior and thus a finite number of spaces. With a new portrait being added with each new pope, its getting pretty tight and there are only six spaces left, which according to some may portend the end times.

According to a local legend the pope whose face graces that last space in the row will in fact be the final pope as the Second Coming begins. While this is simply apocryphal and not condoned by the Catholic church, we only have a handful of pope’s lifetimes to find out who we should have believed.     

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