11 Things You Didn’t Know About St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

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5The Papal Altar’s Unique Feature

The papal altar in St. Peter’s Basilica is distinguished by a unique feature—the relic of the Cathedra Petri, or the Chair of Saint Peter.

This ancient wooden chair, believed to have been used by St. Peter himself, is enclosed within a sculpted bronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The presence of this relic adds a profound spiritual dimension to the papal altar, symbolizing the apostolic succession of the popes.