St Peter's Basilica hosted centenary meeting on 13 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 02:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A centenary meeting at St Peter's Basilica (Basilica papale di San Pietro in Vaticano) took place in Vatican City on 13 October 2026, bringing the third session of a three-part programme to the Altar of the Chair. The programme marks 400 years since the dedication of the Vatican basilica.
St Peter's Basilica hosted the centenary meeting
The meeting was the third in the series 400 Years of St Peter's Basilica, organised as part of the fourth centenary of the building's dedication. The official programme for the meeting placed the pastoral lectures at the Altar of the Chair at 7pm.
The first two sessions were scheduled for 24 March and 26 May 2026, followed by the third on 13 October 2026. The Vatican News report on the event said the discussion covered pilgrimage, the testimony of Peter and the challenges of welcoming visitors and communicating through beauty. Speakers included Caterina Bruno, Vito Mignozzi and Andrea Lonardo, with musical interludes from the Cappella Musicale Giulia.
The Altar of the Chair links the programme to the building
The choice of venue connected the anniversary programme with one of the basilica's principal artistic and symbolic settings. The Altar of the Chair stands in the apse, where Bernini's monumental composition frames the chair associated with Saint Peter.
The present church was begun on 18 April 1506, when Pope Julius II laid its first stone. The official history records the work of architects including Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernini, while Maderno completed the facade between 1608 and 1612. The building's development lasted more than a century and its dedication took place in 1626.
UNESCO places the basilica at the centre of Vatican City, above the tomb of Saint Peter and beside the circular square with its double colonnade. The World Heritage description identifies the building as a product of Renaissance and Baroque art, bringing together the work of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.
What the 13 October meeting added to the anniversary year
The event treated the basilica not only as a historic structure but also as a living religious and cultural setting. Its location at the Altar of the Chair joined the programme's themes of pilgrimage and welcome to the site where the building's artistic decoration and liturgical role meet.
For visitors following the wider anniversary programme, the meeting also provides a clear point in the calendar: it was held on 13 October 2026, rather than being an undated reference to the four-century milestone. The official event page states that registration was required for participation.
Visiting St Peter's Basilica: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The anniversary meeting took place on 13 October 2026 at the Altar of the Chair inside St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
- Registration was required for that meeting. The event was part of a public three-meeting programme, but the official page does not state that registration guaranteed general access to every area of the basilica.
- The basilica stands in Vatican City at the centre of St Peter's Square, with Bernini's double colonnade forming the main approach. Vatican City lies within Rome.
- The building is a functioning place of worship as well as a heritage site, and the principal visitor setting includes the nave, chapels, tomb of Saint Peter and major Renaissance and Baroque works.
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Frequently asked questions about St Peter's Basilica
When did the centenary meeting take place at St Peter's Basilica?
The third meeting in the 400 Years of St Peter's Basilica series took place on 13 October 2026 at the Altar of the Chair.
What is St Peter's Basilica?
It is the Vatican basilica built above the tomb of Saint Peter and a central part of the Vatican City World Heritage property.
Where is St Peter's Basilica and how do you get there?
It is in Vatican City, within Rome, and the principal approach is through St Peter's Square and Bernini's double colonnade.
