Achieved one of my simple goals already.

I had spent about four days in Rome about seven years ago.  I was able to see the major basilicas.  When I saw St. Peters I didn't even know you could go to the top of the dome until we were ready to leave.  I wanted to do that.  Now I have had the chance.  Here are some of the pictures.

Here is the inside.  It would cover all of the area of Holy Name.  The highest point of the ceiling is in the dome.  That is 153 feet up from the floor.  These first two pictures are taken from within the dome, from at 100 feet up.

 This is taken from the top of the dome.  It shows the welcoming arms of the church.  For the building of St. Peters with the dome is to represent the head and shoulders of St. Peter coming back out of the ground in which he was buried to then reach out with welcoming arms to gather in the church as a fisher of men.

 In the center of the picture above is the place my group is staying. 

 This is looking down from the dome to one of the minor domes of St. Peters.

 The modern looking building above looks small but holds 10,000 people.  It is where the Pope has his Wednesday audiences when it gets cold in Rome.

 Here is the major dome taken from on top of the shoulders of St. Peters.

 This is a close-up of the people standing on the balcony of the dome taking pictures just like I have just shown you.  There are a lot of steps to climb to get up this far.

And this is the very top of St. Peters.

 I think these pillars are way more magnificent then the ones in Egypt.

 Entrance to the Papal quarters.

 This is a giant St. Paul statue.

 Jesus and the twelve apostles are on the top of the building.

 Just a church clock.  Of course it is fantastic so that it fits the decor.

 More Saints on the arms of the basilica.

 This is one of my favorite statues, St. Longinus, who was the soldier who speared Jesus but then recognized Jesus as the Son of God and became a believer as he was baptized but the water and received his First Communion from the Blood and Water that came from Jesus' heart.

 The bronze statue of St. Peter is over 1700 years old.

 St. Longinus

 St. Helena

 Notice how the sunlight shines right on the altar as planned by Michaelangelo.

 Taken from behind the main "Papal" altar but looking to the back entry of the church.

A beautiful set of statues dedicated to one of the popes who made this possible.