Remains of an ancient papal palace believed to have been found in Rome

Rome
Reuters
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The remains of what appears to be a medieval palace where the popes lived before they made the Vatican their home have been excavated. Rome The Italian Ministry of Culture announced on Wednesday the start of renovation work in preparation for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee.

Archaeologists have discovered in the square outside the Basilica of St. John Lateran in the city center a complex architectural structure including walls believed to have protected the Patriarchate, a massive cathedral planned by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, the ministry said in a statement.

“This is a very important discovery for the city of Rome and its medieval history, as no large-scale archaeological excavations have been carried out in the square in modern times,” the ministry said.

The ministry added that the building’s initial structure, which came after Constantine declared tolerance of Christianity in the Roman Empire in 313, was expanded in stages between the ninth and 13th centuries, and housed the papacy until 1305 when it temporarily moved to Avignon in France.

The area around the Basilica of St. John Lateran is undergoing renovation and restoration work in preparation for the Jubilee, a year-long event that begins in December and is expected to attract more than 30 million pilgrims and tourists to the Italian capital.

During the Jubilee, Catholics can receive special indulgences, or forgiveness of their sins, if they meet certain conditions and perform good works or make pilgrimages.

Rome’s long history dates back nearly 2,800 years, which means that road works often lead to archaeological discoveries.

Other excavations near the Vatican to widen a road tunnel ahead of the Jubilee in recent weeks have uncovered the remains of an ancient Roman “follonica,” or laundry room, and a porticoed garden believed to have been used by the Emperor Caligula.