The Christian Catacombs of Rome
In the first century, Christians in Rome did not have dedicated cemeteries. Those who owned land buried their relatives there, while others used common burial grounds shared with pagans. This is how Saint Peter came to be interred in the large public necropolis on Vatican Hill, accessible to all. Similarly, Saint Paul was laid to rest in a necropolis along the Via Ostiense.
By the early second century, through various donations and land grants, Christians began to establish underground burial sites, leading to the creation of the catacombs. Many of these burial places originated around private family tombs, where newly converted Christian owners welcomed fellow believers rather than restricting access to relatives. Over time, these burial grounds expanded through additional gifts or property purchases, sometimes under the direction of the Church.
Besides the excavations under St Peter’s, the city of Rome provides the pilgrim with the ability to experience early Christianity. The catacombs are early Christian burial grounds, which today serve as important sources of information regarding the life of the early Christian Church.
Today, pilgrims may visit many of the catacombs around the city of Rome and catch a glimpse of the early Church.
