"Nel contesto pasquale, mi piace quest’oggi condividere con voi anche la gioia di un anniversario molto significativo: 500 anni or sono, precisamente il 18 aprile 1506, il Papa Giulio II poneva la prima pietra della nuova Basilica di San Pietro, che il mondo intero ammira nella possente armonia delle sue forme."
At the Regina caeli of Easter Sunday His Holiness spoke about the 500th anniversary of the placing of the first stone of the Basilica of St. Peter by Pope Julius II. I have a pretty fabulous view of the Basilica from my window in Roma. However, since I don’t get back to Rome until next Sunday, here is a photo from my files. I shot this back on 4 October 2005.
I see the picture here but blank on main page?
What are they celebrating on 4 December? I don’t recall anything.
With a back drop like that, I would light off fireworks everyday.