The History of the Church through 100 Masterpieces

The First Pontiff

The History of the Church 18 The First Pontiff The history of the church began de facto in Rome, marked by the arrival of Peter and Paul in the capital of the Roman Empire, where they were martyred under Nero’s reign. We do not know the details of Peter’s apostolate in Rome, but tradition has it that, kept in the Marmentine Prison, he converted his guards, Martinian and Processus, which enabled him to escape. But while fleeing Rome along the Appian Way, he came upon Christ. “Quo vadis, Domine?” (“Where are you going, Lord?”), Peter asked him. A sweet and sad voice reached the ears of the apostle: “Seeing that you have abandoned my people, I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” This is the high point of the novel Quo Vadis?, Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz’s masterpiece. Peter retraced his steps, returning to Rome, where he was martyred . However, out of humility, so as not to die like Christ, he asked to be crucified head down. Similarly, his brother Andrew, another of the apostles, was martyred in Greece on an X-shaped cross. Caravaggio (alias, Michelangelo Merisi) (ca. 1571–1610) The Crucifixion of Saint Peter Chiesa Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome ...